chockablock
or chock-a-block
[chok-uh-blok]
- extremely full; crowded; jammed: a room chockablock with furniture and plants.
- Nautical. having the blocks drawn close together, as when the tackle is hauled to the utmost.
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- in a crowded manner: books piled chockablock on the narrow shelf.
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Origin of chockablock
cf. chock close (up to), apparently as back formation from chock-full
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for chock-a-block
Historical Examples
A company came on board the Scourge, and they filled us chock-a-block.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
I wish I could ask you to stay, but we are chock-a-block with cousins and aunts.
The Independence of ClaireMrs. George de Horne Vaizey
The big Ravine and all the small nullahs are chock-a-block with corpses.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume IIan Hamilton
"Then, if it is true we'll find the Cavarale chock-a-block with British prisoners," said Dacres.
The Dreadnought of the AirPercy F. Westerman
The place was chock-a-block with rough-looking men, either looking on or playing the games.
The Trail of '98Robert W. Service
chock-a-block
- filled to capacity; in a crammed state
- nautical with the blocks brought close together, as when a tackle is pulled as tight as possible
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for chock-a-block
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper