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Bum chum
01
a gay partner
Offensive
Slang
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Human
Composition
Compound
Countable
singular
gender specific
Plural form
bum chums
Masculine Singular
bum chum
neutral form
partner
What is the origin of the term "bum chum" and how is it used?
Bum chum is a slang term that appeared in mid-20th-century English to describe a gay partner or intimate male companion. The word combines "bum," a crude term for the anus, with "chum," meaning friend or companion, emphasizing a sexualized friendship or relationship between men. Historically, it could be playful within gay communities but was also used derogatorily by outsiders to mock same-sex relationships. Today it is mostly historical, and using it in modern contexts can be considered vulgar or offensive outside discussions of vintage gay slang.
Examples
The bum chum carried drinks for both of them.
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