‖ chow-chow, n. and a.
(ˈtʃaʊtʃaʊ)
[According to Col. Yule, ‘pigeon-English’; of uncertain origin.]
1. n. A mixture or medley of any sort; e.g. mixed pickles or preserves. Also, food of any kind. Ind. and China.
| 1795 A. Anderson Narr. Brit. Embassy China (Gloss.), Chow-chow..victuals or meat. 1850 B. Taylor Eldorado xii. (1862) 117 The grave Celestials serve up their chow-chow and curry. 1857 V'ctess Falkland (title), Chow-Chow: a Journal kept in India. 1858 Bombay Q.R. Jan. 100 (Y.) The word chow-chow is suggestive, especially to the Indian reader, of a mixture of things, ‘good, bad, and indifferent’. 1864 Hotten Slang Dict. 100 Chow-chow, a mixture, food of any kind. 1869 N. & Q. 6 Mar. 230, I got an invitation to a first-rate Chow-chow or Chinese dinner. 1912 Galsworthy Pigeon 1, (He..cuts a large slice of cake..and hands it in.) Chow-chow! |
2. adj. Miscellaneous, mixed, assorted, diverse; of water, ‘broken’. chow-chow chop: the last lighter containing the sundry small packages to fill up a ship. (Williams, Chinese Comm. Guide.) Ind. and China.
| 1845 Stocqueler Handbk. Brit. India (1854) 321 The general or ‘chow chow’ Borah. 1882 Fankwae 63 (Y.) A ‘chow-chow’ cargo is an assorted cargo; a ‘general shop’ is a ‘chow-chow’ shop. 1884 Law Rep. 13 Q.B. Div. 652 The current was causing small whirlpools, and was of the kind known in China as ‘chow-chow’ water. |
3. Austral. slang. = chow n. 1. (Derogatory.)
| 1869 ‘E. Howe’ Boy in Bush 215 The Jerry's Town youngsters were pelting the Chinaman,..meanwhile shouting out ‘Chow-chow!’ 1945 Baker Austral. Lang. x. 185 The many expressions we have developed..for the Chinese: chink, chinkie, chow, chow-chow, [etc.]. |
4. A Chinese domestic dog; = chow n. 3. Also attrib.
| 1886 Kennel Club Cal. 397 Chow Chow. 1892 Field 5 Mar. 325/1, I should be glad to hear if any of your readers has ever seen grey Chow-Chow dogs. 1896 Daily News 9 Dec. 5 The chow-chow..came originally from China. 1957 Encycl. Brit. VII. 495B/2 The chow-chow is probably the oldest of the breeds in the non-sporting group. |