Chewbacca

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The tall, furry Wookiee co-pilot of Han Solo in the Star Wars films ; a shaggy, large-bodied creature with a roaring voice that people often compare to him
2. Han Solo's loyal Wookiee companion from the Star Wars saga ; a hairy, towering figure whose growling speech and great strength give him a memorable personality
3. A famous character from the Star Wars franchise, a massive furry Wookiee warrior ; the name is also used playfully for any big, hairy, growling creature

Etymology: Chewbacca was created by George Lucas for the 1977 film "Star Wars," and his name came from a mix of the word "chewing" and the Italian-American word "bacca," a slang term for a rough or uncouth person. The hairy Wookiee was partly inspired by Lucas's own dog, Indiana, a malamute, and the character's roar was built from recordings of animal sounds, including a walrus, a bear, and a lion, which sound designers Ben Burtt and others blended together. The name is a playful invention rather than something drawn from mythology or an older language. Because the name was coined for a film in the 1970s, it has no long history in English. Its influence has spread into common speech, and "Chewbacca" is now a shorthand for any large, shaggy, growling figure, which is why people compare hairy, gruff creatures to him.