chock full
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: chockfull and chock-full
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English chokkeful (“crammed full”) c. 1400, possibly from choke (“cheek”), equivalent to cheek + full. Or it may be from Old French choquier (“collide, crash, hit”), similar to shock.[1] The later form chock-a-block full is due to association with chock, used in carpentry and shipbuilding.
Pronunciation
Adjective
chock full (comparative more chock full, superlative most chock full)
- (informal) Containing the maximum amount possible, flush on all sides, jam-packed, crammed.
- That article is chock-full of errors.
- 1741, George E. Nitzsche, The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle, University of Pennsylvania. General Alumni Society, pages 251:
- The pages of the diary are chock full of fascinating reports of medical incidents of all sorts.
- 1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 565:
- “Chock full o' science,” said the radiant Captain, “as ever he was! […] ”
- 1928 August, E. E. Smith, “The Skylark of Space”, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, Preface:
- The story is chock full, not only of excellent science, but woven through it there is also that very rare element, love and romance.
Derived terms
Translations
containing the maximum amount
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See also
References
- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “chock-full”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
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