chow-chow
[chou-chou]
- a Chinese mixed fruit preserve.
- a relish of chopped mixed pickles in mustard sauce.
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Origin of chow-chow
Borrowed into English from Chinese Pidgin English around 1785–95
chow chow
[chou chou]
- one of a Chinese breed of medium-sized dogs having a thick black, blue, red, or cream coat and a blue-black tongue.
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Also chow.
Origin of chow chow
1785–95; said to be < dialectal Chinese; compare Guangdong dial. gáu dog
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for chow-chow
Historical Examples
"Chow-Chow" was not a pickle, but a chicken, and a real funny one, too.
Why, it's like one o' those Chow-chow dogs, I'm blest if it isn't!
When he hears dishes rattle, yells “Chow-chow” for a long time.
Studies in Forensic PsychiatryBernard Glueck
He led a happy life, with a perch and ring of ebony and silver, the freedom of the house, and chow-chow four times a day.
Toto's Merry WinterLaura E. Richards
And in a few weeks not a rooster in the neighborhood had such a musical, splendid crow as our "Chow-Chow."
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 ChinaOften shortened to: chow
- a Chinese preserve of ginger, orange peel, etc in syrup
- a mixed vegetable pickle
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Word Origin
C19: from pidgin English, probably based on Mandarin Chinese cha miscellaneous
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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