faunching

Verb

faunch (third-person singular simple present faunches, present participle faunching, simple past and past participle faunched)

1. (US) To bite the bit, especially when restless; to champ.
   • Instead of the fine faunching black mare he usually rode he was on a light grey today, a little slower if it came to a run from the Indians or a buffalo stampede, but much less conspicuous against the snow.1954, Mari Sandoz, The Buffalo Hunters, published 2008, →ISBN, page 6
2. (US, chiefly Midland American English and Western American English) To complain; to rant; to rave.
   • But on the evening before election, a staunch Democrat who had been on one of our telephone jobs came to my door — just faunching and spluttering.1931, Anne Ellis, Plain Anne Ellis, published 1997, →ISBN, page 151
3. (US, chiefly Midland American English and Western American English) To worry; to be eager; to show impatience.
   • Rather than have me fidget and faunch while waiting in line (I'd neglected to bring a book) my wife sent me off to the music store with her blessing, with the promise to send our daughter Celia to fetch me when we finally got our table an hour later.1998 June 2, Wade Hampton Miller, “There's a nice archtop for sale at Downtown Disney”, in rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic (Usenet), message-ID <1998060219431000.PAA29427@ladder01.news.aol.com>
4. (dated, slang) To desire; to yearn; to covet.
   • He is a young fellow, not long out of adolescence, who faunches to set the world on fire but isn't sure how to go about it.1959, Richard "Dick" Harris Eney, Fancyclopedia II, Joe Fann/Jophan

See all 5 meanings of faunch