chowchow

See also: chow chow, chow-chow, and Chow Chow

English

Alternative forms

• chow-chow, chow chow

Etymology

Borrowed from Chinese Pidgin English chow-chow (“food”). Compare Macanese chau-cháu.

Noun

chowchow (countable and uncountable, plural chowchows)

1. A Chinese preserve. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
2. An American relish, containing pickled green tomatoes, cabbage, and often other vegetables.
3. A fruit ketchup
4. (obsolete, slang, Anglo-Chinese) Gossip.
5. Alternative form of Chow Chow (“type of dog”)

Synonyms

• India relish
• piccalilli

 

ketchup

• catsup
• ketchup

 

Translations

ketchup

• French: chow chow m

Verb

chowchow (third-person singular simple present chowchows, present participle chowchowing, simple past and past participle chowchowed)

1. (obsolete, slang, Anglo-Chinese) To gossip.
   • 1861, The London and China Telegraph, page 316:

     […] some ten or twelve fellows were chow chowing and drinking, playing at the Chinese game with their fingers, shouting and yelling like demons.

Adjective

chowchow (not comparable)

1. (obsolete, slang, Anglo-Chinese) Consisting of several kinds mingled together; mixed.

   chowchow sweetmeats (preserved fruits put together)

Derived terms

• chowchow chop

 

French

Noun

chowchow m (plural chowchows)

1. Alternative form of chow chow