chowchow

1 of 2

noun (1)

chow·​chow ˈchau̇-ˌchau̇ How to pronounce chowchow (audio)
1
: a Chinese preserve of ginger, fruits, and peels in heavy syrup
2
: a relish of chopped mixed pickles in mustard sauce

chow chow

2 of 2

noun (2)

variants often Chow Chow
: any of a breed of heavy-coated sturdy muscular dogs of Chinese origin having a broad head and muzzle, a distinctive blue-black tongue and black-lined mouth, and either a long dense coat with a full ruff or a short smooth coat

called also chow

Illustration of chow chow

Illustration of chow chow

Examples of chowchow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Hearty dishes include cabbage stuffed with beef from nearby Wolf Hills Farm and served with Milton's version of chowchow, the ubiquitous Southern relish. Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 22 Aug. 2021 Panzer’s pickles, sauerkraut and chowchow were brined in Fells Point. Jacques Kelly, baltimoresun.com, 3 Apr. 2021 Pinckney was at the dinner that night, trying to acknowledge and refute history over watermelon brandy, chowchow, shrimp pie, chapon chasseur, and truffled squab served with silver ewers of walnut ketchup. Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Chinese Pidgin English chowchow food

Noun (2)

perhaps from chow-chow Chinese person, from Chinese Pidgin English chowchow food

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chowchow was in 1850

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Cite this Entry

“Chowchow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chowchow. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

chow chow

noun
: any of a breed of thick-coated muscular dogs with a blue-black tongue and a short tail curled close to the back

called also chow

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