gumchewing

English

Etymology

From gum +‎ chewing.

Adjective

gumchewing (not comparable)

1. Chewing gum.
   • 1911, “Madam the Boss; By Robert J. Sherman; Price, 35 Cents”, in Mary Wolcott Green, The Women Who Did: A Dramatic Entertainment for Women Historical and Patriotic, Chicago, Ill.: T. S. Denison & Company:

     Other valuable allies are Sammy, the foxy publicity man, and his ladylove, the slangy, gumchewing stenographer, who, in a mix-up with the boss, is equal to tackling the latter’s snobbish wife single-handed.

   • 1965, Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 89^th Congress, First Session, volume 111, part 4, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, page 4557:

     The spectacle of a bunch of crewcutted, gumchewing teenagers lording it over the natives in the streets of Saigon is a lesson in how not to conduct foreign relations.

   • 1972 July–August, Tom Bethell, “Consolidation Coal: the corporate killer”, in The Miner’s Voice, volume 2, number 12:

     Later we drive slowly away from the mine in Ron Statler’s car, past the gumchewing trooper who leans down to star into the car suspiciously as we go by.

Noun

gumchewing (uncountable)

1. The chewing of gum.
   • 1947, Joe Archibald, Rebel Halfback, Philadelphia, Pa.: The Westminster Press, page 132:

     Hunk gave him a fleeting glance and went back to his gumchewing.

   • 1967 March, “Secret Memorandum”, in Unemployment Insurance Review, volume 4, number 3, page 15:

     Among such rules he included one against gumchewing. […] She was aware that gumchewing was frowned upon at the company, but had not been warned that it would lead to a suspension from work.

   • 1970, Ben C[urt] Gmur, John T. Fodor, L. H. Glass, Joseph J. Langan, Making Health Decisions, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., page 101:

     Chronic gumchewing is similar to toothgrinding. It causes unusual pressure on the bones supporting the large molars.