chow chow

[ chou chou ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, (often initial capital letters)

one of a Chinese breed of medium-sized dogs having a thick black, blue, red, or cream coat and a blue-black tongue.

chow-chow

[ chou-chou ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

chow-chow

a thick-coated breed of the spitz type of dog with a curled tail and a characteristic blue-black tongue; it came originally from China Often shortened tochow
a Chinese preserve of ginger, orange peel, etc in syrup
a mixed vegetable pickle

1785–95; said to be < dialectal Chinese; compare Guangdong dial. gáu dog

Borrowed into English from Chinese Pidgin English around 1785–95

C19: from pidgin English, probably based on Mandarin Chinese cha miscellaneous

And in a few weeks not a rooster in the neighborhood had such a musical, splendid crow as our "Chow-Chow."

There was "Chow-Chow" on the window-sill, pecking at the glass, and holding up one foot, and then the other.

At noon the besiegers ceased firing and refreshed themselves with chow-chow and brandy.

Teas and silks, and many minor articles coming under the general head of 'Chow-chow,' were bought for cash.

The poor dogs were never found, and the Compradore insisted upon it that 'some man hav chow-chow he,' and we supposed so too.

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

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