The Art and Etymology of Chubbing

The capitol's gone chubbing. Depending on your understanding of the term "chubbing" that could mean anything from fishing, engaging in a variety of legislative delays or sexual activities.

The best I can tell the word "chubbing" has it's origins in the Scandinavian word for the chub fish. A chub is a small but fat fish that is said to be named from its large head, but it is rather its body which is thick and fat. This should not be separated from the adjective chubby (i. e. fat or fleshy).

In fishing nomenclature "going chubbing" means going fishing for the chub fish. The chub is primarily a river fish.

It is curious indeed that we have gone for a term for fishing for a particular kind of fish to the present describing a form of legislative filibustering - a delay tactic by excessive talking, questioning or filing unnecessary amendments.

I have to surmise that a term whose usage originated in a more rural and less sexually liberated Texas, that the modern urban sexual reference is not the likely source for the modern usage of the term. Texas being Texas hunting and fishing references are the most likely source for the legislative use of the word.

So here are my best surmises as to what the fishing of the chub fish has to do with excessive talking in order to cause delay.

First, the chub fish is renowned for its huge ‘bucket’ mouth, this could act as a creative metaphor for someone who talks too much, with a ‘bucket’ mouth.

Second, the chub fish is an eating machine that will eat anything at almost anytime. Again, a good example of a distinctive animal that is renowned for use of it's mouth.

Third, the physical characteristics which originated in a fish distinctive for it's fattiness, excessive flesh or other excessive characteristics may have transferred over time to the excessive talking that occurs in legislative chubbing.

Fourth, the term chubbing which may have at one time meant fishing for a particular type of fish, may over time come to be synonymous with simply going fishing. The act of fishing, which can be described as a slow, methodical and patient art, can mirror the slow methodical pacing of the lazy passage of time while filibustering.

Fifth, since 1558 the term chub was used metaphorically to describe a "lazy person". This act of legislative chubbing can be described as taking a lazy or slow approach to asking questions.

Okay, that's my best shot at it. As you can tell the legislative chubbing on the floor today and tonight has given me more than enough time to answer the question that was posed recently.



Any other questions?