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. 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 Often shortened tochow
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

Example Sentences

The court heard Walton, of Ashling Way, Middlesbrough, brought her chow chow to the march and a video showed both women holding the pet's lead at times as a mob made its way up Parliament Street.

From BBC

A Chow Chow named Jofi was one of the first animals to influence our modern understanding of the therapeutic potential of animals.

From Seattle Times

He has shown off his new dog on Instagram and explained that he called the high-energy Chow Chow “Volta” after the inventor of the electric battery.

From New York Times

Butts moved in with three dogs: Tiger, a boxer; Papi, a Chihuahua; and Pepper, a schnauzer chow chow mix.

From Los Angeles Times

The deviled eggs are plain eating despite the bacon-laced chow chow showered on them, and the clever combination of smoked wild swordfish, shaved onions and whipped ricotta on a pizza plays up the cheese to the detriment of what’s supposed to be a play on a bagel with lox.

From Washington Post