What does this slang term mean?

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Chum Meaning - Streetionary

Chum (noun / UK Slang)

(Also heard as: Chums, Old chum, Chummy)

Definition:

Chum is an old-fashioned British word for a friend or close companion. It sounds jolly and a bit posh, like something from a school story, and people use it today mostly for fun.

Where Chum Comes From:

It began as 17th-century student slang, probably short for “chamber-fellow”, meaning a roommate. It then became a general word for a friend and was popular in Victorian and Edwardian writing.

How People Actually Use Chum:

You hear it in a jokey voice: “alright, old chum?” It is used by older people, in period dramas and for comic effect. “Chummy” means friendly. Note that “chum” is also bait for fishing.

Is Chum Rude?

No. It is warm and old-fashioned.

Examples in the Wild:

“Hello, old chum, long time no see.”
Meaning: A cheerful, old-fashioned greeting to a friend.
“We have been chums since school.”
Meaning: We have been friends since school.
“He is a chum of mine from the club.”
Meaning: He is a friend.