CHOKE THE LUFF. To place suddenly the fall of a tackle close to the block across the jaw of the next turn of the rope in the block, so as to prevent the leading part from rendering. Familiarly said of having a meal to assuage hunger; to be silenced.
CHOKEY. An East Indian guard-house and prison.
CHOMMERY. See [Chasse Marées], for which this is the men's term.
CHOP. A permit or license of departure for merchant ships in the China trade. A Chinese word signifying quality. Also, an imperial chop or mandate; a proclamation.
CHOP, or Chapp. The entrance of a channel, as the Chops of the English Channel.
CHOP-ABOUT, To. Is applied to the wind when it varies and changes suddenly, and at short intervals of time.
CHOPPING-SEA. A synonym of [cockling sea] (which see).
CHOPT. Done suddenly in exigence; as, chopt to an anchor.
CHORD. In geometry, is a line which joins the extremities of any arc of a circle.
CHOW-CHOW. Eatables; a word borrowed from the Chinese. It is supposed to be derived from chou-chou, the tender parts of cabbage-tree, bamboo, &c., preserved.