chubby

English

Etymology

Recorded since 1611, from chub (“short, thick fish species used as bait"; used metaphorically since 1558 for "lazy person”), an assibilated form of cub (“a lump, heap, mass”) and cob, from Middle English *cubbe (found only in derivative cubbel (“a block to which an animal is tethered”)), from Old Norse kubbr, kumbr (“block, stump, log”) and/or Old Norse kumben (“stumpy”), equivalent to chub +‎ -y. Cognate with Swedish dialectal kubbug (“fat, plump, chubby”). More at chub.

Pronunciation
  • enPR: chŭbʹē, IPA(key): /ˈtʃʌbi/
  • Audio (AU)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ʌbi

Adjective

chubby (comparative chubbier, superlative chubbiest)

  1. Of a person, slightly overweight, somewhat fat, and hence soft, plump, and rounded.
    • 2010, Marsha Hubler, The Long Ride Home, Zonderkidz (→ISBN), page 97:
      Slowly Skye wrapped her arms around the chubby woman's frame and rested her head on Rita's chest drenched with perspiration.
    Obviously the chubby child was eating too much.
    Synonyms: chunky, plump, podgy, tubby
  2. Of a body part, containing a moderate amount of fat.
    It's quite normal for babies to have chubby cheeks.
    Synonyms: chunky, plump, podgy

Derived terms

Translations
of a body part, containing a moderate amount of fat
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked

Noun

chubby (plural chubbies)

  1. A chubby, plump person
    • 1949, R. Duffy Lewis, Dorothy Stote, How to build an infant's, girls' and teens' wear business: a manual for retailers and prospective shop owners
      The chubby is the girl who cannot be fitted in the regular 7 to 14 size range because she is too stout. Sizes for these girls are 7*4 to 141/^, and are specially styled and designed to give them better proportions.
    • 2007, Jackie Guerra, Under Construction: How I've Gained and Lost Millions of Dollars and Hundreds of Pounds, New Amer Library (→ISBN)
      The chubby is especially taken for granted: "Hey, can you watch my purse while I dance?"
  2. (LGBT slang) An overweight or obese gay man.
  3. (slang) A penile erection, especially when short and with a large circumference; a boner.
    Hey, Lucius, I just wanted to share a piece of personal information with you. I've got a... a chubby right now because [starts screaming] This is one of the most awesome experiences of my life!—Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Derived terms

Translations
erection — see boner
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