ChatGPT: In the word “woodchuck,” what does “chuck” mean?
In the word “woodchuck,” “chuck” is thought to come from the Native American word for the animal, which is a groundhog or whistle-pig. The term itself doesn’t have a specific standalone meaning in English, but it’s often associated with the act of throwing or tossing something. However, in the context of “woodchuck,” it refers specifically to the animal rather than conveying a particular action. The phrase “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck…” plays on the name rather than its literal meaning.
From Wikipedia: A 1957 Associated Press piece refers to the question as “a riddle which beats the Sphinx, since it’s still unanswered”. A more concrete answer was published by the Associated Press in 1988, which reported that a New York fish and wildlife technician named Richard Thomas had calculated the volume of dirt in a typical 25–30-foot (7.6–9.1 m) long woodchuck burrow and had determined that if the woodchuck had moved an equivalent volume of wood, it could move “about 700 pounds (320 kg) on a good day, with the wind at his back”. Another study, which considered “chuck” to be the opposite of upchucking, determined that a woodchuck could ingest 362 cm3 (22 cu in) of wood per day.
The people at MIT are very smart. They are very smart. I asked them a question and they said it was a very smart question. No one had ever asked that question before. They said it was the smartest question they had ever heard and no one ever asked that question before. They said that it was one of the smartest questions they ever heard.
I’m pretty sure this same joke was in a Far Side years ago, although I’m not going to try to track it down now. Something like a question people were answering on an exam.
Yes, I know, it’s hard to be original, and people come up with the same jokes independently anyway.
According to a Wall Street Journal article, New York State wildlife expert Richard Thomas found that a woodchuck could chuck around 35 cubic feet of dirt in the course of digging a burrow. If a woodchuck could chuck wood, he would chuck an amount equal to 700 pounds. Due to the average size of a wood chuck and the general density of wood (not including cork) if a wood chuck could chuck wood it would probably get through about 6.573 pounds per day, assuming the wood chuck is functioning correctly.
I would not be surprise if MIT has already answered this question. A group of students did a study on the effectiveness of tin foil hats. They used three styles, bowl, cone, and Roman helmet-shape.
I do not remember which one, but one of the styles actually enhanced the radio waves of a certain wave range that is currently in reserve by the US government for future uses. The students’ conclusion was the US government started the tin foil hat theory in a fit if of reverse psychology to encourage their use in order to secretly test the radio waves “held in reserve.”
C 3 months ago
Now we’ll have an answer according to MIT
Leroy 3 months ago
ChatGPT: In the word “woodchuck,” what does “chuck” mean?
In the word “woodchuck,” “chuck” is thought to come from the Native American word for the animal, which is a groundhog or whistle-pig. The term itself doesn’t have a specific standalone meaning in English, but it’s often associated with the act of throwing or tossing something. However, in the context of “woodchuck,” it refers specifically to the animal rather than conveying a particular action. The phrase “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck…” plays on the name rather than its literal meaning.
That thing is pretty amazing sometimes!
oldpine52 3 months ago
The important thing isn’t how much he could chuck, but rather how much he would chuck.
AllishaDawn 3 months ago
“A woodchuck would chuck all the wood he could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.”
Yakety Sax 3 months ago
From Wikipedia: A 1957 Associated Press piece refers to the question as “a riddle which beats the Sphinx, since it’s still unanswered”. A more concrete answer was published by the Associated Press in 1988, which reported that a New York fish and wildlife technician named Richard Thomas had calculated the volume of dirt in a typical 25–30-foot (7.6–9.1 m) long woodchuck burrow and had determined that if the woodchuck had moved an equivalent volume of wood, it could move “about 700 pounds (320 kg) on a good day, with the wind at his back”. Another study, which considered “chuck” to be the opposite of upchucking, determined that a woodchuck could ingest 362 cm3 (22 cu in) of wood per day.
BigBoy 3 months ago
The real question is would a wood chuck, chuck wood. Here’s a report from national news reporter… yup, you guessed it… Chuck Wood
Farside99 3 months ago
Was that with or without “Skinner Box” assists?
Dobie Premium Member 3 months ago
Buck chucked wood like a Woodchuck could when Woodchuck Buck chucked wood!
Buck’s in the lead at 2.3, so thank you MIT!
(I don’t see Bleeb, but it appears that Dalcon is about to get bonked by some wood that Buck chucked!)
phritzg Premium Member 3 months ago
This could be MIT’s entry in the next Ig Nobel Awards competition.
The Orange Mailman 3 months ago
The people at MIT are very smart. They are very smart. I asked them a question and they said it was a very smart question. No one had ever asked that question before. They said it was the smartest question they had ever heard and no one ever asked that question before. They said that it was one of the smartest questions they ever heard.
Kornfield Kounty 3 months ago
How much wood? Together Everyone Achieves More. ‘Chuck’ Norris
s_krumpe 3 months ago
Hey, you dang woodchucks, quit chucking my wood! (bonus points if you get it)
dbrucepm 3 months ago
to put it on top of the pile would it have to upchuck?
jbduncan 3 months ago
It’s only a cartoon folks! But, I have some Wookchucks you can come get for free, please!
Kaputnik 3 months ago
I’m pretty sure this same joke was in a Far Side years ago, although I’m not going to try to track it down now. Something like a question people were answering on an exam.
Yes, I know, it’s hard to be original, and people come up with the same jokes independently anyway.
capndan Premium Member 3 months ago
Watch out Bleeb! Incoming!
ladykat 3 months ago
Is that a face cord or a bush cord?
boydjb47 3 months ago
Or…How much ground could a groundhog grind if a groundhog could grind ground?
jtburgess Premium Member 3 months ago
Whoa. 2 cords is a LOT of wood
Supremecourtjester 3 months ago
carlosrivers 3 months ago
Ask Siri and hear what she says…
Zebrastripes 3 months ago
Aaaacckk!
And can I ask? If two witches were watching two watches which witch was watching which watch
rhpii 3 months ago
My money is on the Chuckster.
cldisme 3 months ago
I would not be surprise if MIT has already answered this question. A group of students did a study on the effectiveness of tin foil hats. They used three styles, bowl, cone, and Roman helmet-shape.
I do not remember which one, but one of the styles actually enhanced the radio waves of a certain wave range that is currently in reserve by the US government for future uses. The students’ conclusion was the US government started the tin foil hat theory in a fit if of reverse psychology to encourage their use in order to secretly test the radio waves “held in reserve.”
Frank Burns Eats Worms 3 months ago
2.3 Buck Chuck.
zenyattafan 3 months ago
A recent Tundra cartoon showed wood being offloaded from a pickup truck and a woodchuck telling his fellows, “I get mine pre-chucked.”
cuzinron47 3 months ago
Not doubt from a government grant.
ekke 3 months ago
Chuck THAT!
the lost wizard 3 months ago
Wasn’t Chuck Wood a p-orno star? :)
Mike Baldwin creator 3 months ago
A whole pile!
MRBLUESKY529 3 months ago
Next, they’ll investigate how fuzzy wuz Fuzzy Wuzzy.
The Tooninator creator 3 months ago
How many warts could a wart hog hog if a warthog could hog warts?
eb110americana 3 months ago
“Woodchuck was my father. You can just call me Charles Timber.”
pamela welch Premium Member 3 months ago
LOLOL
Laurie Stoker Premium Member 3 months ago
You better move, Bleeb! You’re in a dangerous location!!!
jvscanlan Premium Member 3 months ago
Excess funding in their budget . . . .
PaintTheDust 3 months ago
How many smoots can the MIT wood chuck chuck the wood?
geese28 3 months ago
How many licks to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
Huckleberry Hiroshima 3 months ago
How much butter could a butterfly butt if a butterfly could butt butts.