chow chow

¹

[chou chou]

noun

(often initial capital letters)

1. 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

²

[chou-chou]

noun

1. a Chinese mixed fruit preserve.

2. a relish of chopped mixed pickles in mustard sauce.

chow-chow

noun

1. Often shortened to: 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

2. a Chinese preserve of ginger, orange peel, etc in syrup

3. a mixed vegetable pickle

Word History and Origins

Origin of chow chow¹

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

Origin of chow chow²

Borrowed into English from Chinese Pidgin English around 1785–95

Word History and Origins

Origin of chow chow¹

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