Definition of munch

The origins of the word "munch" can be traced back to the Middle English language, specifically the word "mungen," which meant "to chew loudly." Around the 15th century, this word evolved into the Old English word "myngan," which meant "to mingle or blend together," referring to the act of chewing food thoroughly. During the 16th century, the phrase "munching and mowing" emerged, which meant "chewing and talking loudly at the same time," likely due to the noisy sound of crunching and smacking of the mouth. This phrase eventually became simplified into "munching," as we know it today. The use of "munch" to describe eating habits can be found as far back as the Middle English period, where it was used to describe the action of "grazing" on food, much like how cows graze in a field. This reflected the idea of nibbling or snacking on food constantly, rather than consuming large meals all at once. In summary, the word "munch" evolved from the Middle English word "mungen" which described the loud, chewing sound of food being consumed, and eventually took on the meaning of "grazing" or "snacking" on food.