CINXE.COM
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8" content="text/html;charset=utf-8;"> <title data-react-helmet="true" property="og:title">chow | Etymology of chow by etymonline</title> <meta data-react-helmet="true" http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" name="theme-color" content="#83001d"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#83001d"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" name="msapplication-TileImage" content="/ms-icon-144x144.png"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" name="description" property="og:description" content=""food," originally especially "Chinese food," 1856, American English (originally in… See origin and meaning of chow."/><meta data-react-helmet="true" property="og:image" content="https://www.etymonline.com/graphics/header.jpg"/><meta data-react-helmet="true" name="twitter:card" content="summary"/> <link data-react-helmet="true" rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="https://www.etymonline.com/opensearch.xml" title="Etymonline Search"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="chrome-webstore-item" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/giehjnnlopapngdjbjjgddpaagoimmgl"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="57x57" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/apple-icon-57x57.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="60x60" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/apple-icon-60x60.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/apple-icon-72x72.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/apple-icon-76x76.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="114x114" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/apple-icon-114x114.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/apple-icon-120x120.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/apple-icon-144x144.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/apple-icon-152x152.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/apple-icon-180x180.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="192x192" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/android-icon-192x192.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/favicon-32x32.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="96x96" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/favicon-96x96.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/favicon/favicon-16x16.png"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json"/><link data-react-helmet="true" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/fontawesome/css/font-awesome.min.css"/><link data-react-helmet="true" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/style.1ca52a5f895b4c08a29e26a206c2dacb.css"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="canonical" href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/chow"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="alternate" hrefLang="en" href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/chow"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="alternate" hrefLang="zh" href="https://www.etymonline.com/cn/word/chow"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="alternate" hrefLang="de" href="https://www.etymonline.com/de/word/chow"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="alternate" hrefLang="es" href="https://www.etymonline.com/es/word/chow"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="alternate" hrefLang="fr" href="https://www.etymonline.com/fr/word/chow"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="alternate" hrefLang="it" href="https://www.etymonline.com/it/word/chow"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="alternate" hrefLang="ja" href="https://www.etymonline.com/jp/word/chow"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="alternate" hrefLang="ko" href="https://www.etymonline.com/kr/word/chow"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="alternate" hrefLang="pt" href="https://www.etymonline.com/pt/word/chow"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="alternate" hrefLang="zh-TW" href="https://www.etymonline.com/tw/word/chow"/><link data-react-helmet="true" rel="alternate" hrefLang="x-default" href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/chow"/> <style data-react-helmet="true" type="text/css">@-webkit-keyframes slideDown{0%{-webkit-transform:translateY(0);transform:translateY(0)}100%{-webkit-transform:translateY(100%);transform:translateY(100%)}}@keyframes slideDown{0%{-webkit-transform:translateY(0);transform:translateY(0)}100%{-webkit-transform:translateY(100%);transform:translateY(100%)}}@-webkit-keyframes slideUp{0%{-webkit-transform:translateY(100%);transform:translateY(100%)}100%{-webkit-transform:translateY(0);transform:translateY(0)}}@keyframes slideUp{0%{-webkit-transform:translateY(100%);transform:translateY(100%)}100%{-webkit-transform:translateY(0);transform:translateY(0)}}</style> <script async src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script><script>window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};</script> </head> <body> <div id="root"><div data-reactroot=""><div class="container--1mazc"><div class="header header--1Mejf header__vanila--2dqaM header--top header__sticky--1w7Bc"><div class="header__vanila__container--CElq1"><div class="ant-row"><div class="ant-col-sm-17"><div class="inner--7ZeMs" data-role="header-inner"><div class="header__logo--12Lje" data-role="header-logo"><a href="/" title="Etymology"><img class="header__logo__image--2avl2" src="https://cdn.etymonline.com/web/logo.png" alt="Etymology"/></a></div><div class="header__searchbar--3yKr5" data-role="header-searchbar"><div class="searchform"><form class="searchbar--3dK8Z searchbar" action="/search"><div role="combobox" aria-haspopup="listbox" aria-owns="react-autowhatever-1" aria-expanded="false" class="searchbar__container--2VZd7"><input type="text" value="" autoComplete="off" aria-autocomplete="list" aria-controls="react-autowhatever-1" class="searchbar__input--3L4IY" id="search-bar-text-input" placeholder="Search" name="q" required="" autoCapitalize="off" autoCorrect="off" title="Type a word to search."/><div id="react-autowhatever-1" role="listbox"></div></div><div class="search-clear"><i class="fa fa-times-circle"></i></div><input type="submit" title="Search" value="" class="searchbar__button--3luO1"/></form></div></div></div></div><div class="ant-col-sm-6 ant-col-sm-offset-1"><div class="userInfo--3pEnp"><a class="userInfo_login--1peTS" href="/web/login?redirect_uri=%2Fword%2Fchow" rel="nofollow">Log in</a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="main main--10rAd" data-role="content-main"><div class="ant-row-flex ant-row-flex-space-around"><div class="ant-col-xs-24 ant-col-sm-24 ant-col-md-24 ant-col-lg-17"><div data-ad-container="true" class="adContainer--6CVz1 vertical"><span class="adLabel--35hfi">Advertisement</span><div id="div-gpt-ad-pc-wd-top" style="min-width:728px;min-height:90px"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa"><div><div class="" style="position:relative"><h1 title="Origin and meaning of chow" class="word__name--TTbAA">chow<!-- --> <!-- -->(n.)</h1><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH"><p>"food," originally especially "Chinese food," 1856, American English (originally in California), from Chinese pidgin English <span class="foreign notranslate">chow-chow</span> (1795) "food; mixed pickle or preserve; mix or medley of any sort," perhaps a reduplication of Chinese <span class="foreign notranslate">cha</span> or <span class="foreign notranslate">tsa</span> "mixed," or Cantonese <span class="foreign notranslate">chaau</span> "to fry, cook." Hence also <span class="foreign notranslate">chow-chow</span> (adj.) "mixed" (1845), since used as a noun in reference to various preserves or relish.</p> <p>The dog breed of the same name is from 1886, of unknown origin, but some suggest a link to the Chinese tendency to see dogs as edible.</p></section><div class="word__firstRecorded--3lZB8">also from<!-- --> <a rel="nofollow" class="word__firstRecorded_time--28qNE" href="/search?sort=a&q=from:1856">1856</a></div></div></div></div><div class="ngram--SmXCf"><h3 class="h3_title" title="Trends of chow">Trends of <i>chow</i></h3><div class="ngram__container--NwjaG" style="height:180px"><canvas id="ngram-chart"></canvas></div><div class="ngram__footer--3-9dX">adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.</div></div><div class="related--32LCi"><h3 class="h3_title" title="More to Explore">More to Explore</h3><div class="related__details--2kumU"><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8" style="padding:10px 20px"><div><a class="recommended-word" rel="nofollow" data-recommended-type="syn_ant" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of chuck" href="/word/chuck"><div class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="font-size:18px">chuck<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></div><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined word__etymology_limit_line--3DeZW" style="cursor:pointer">"to throw," 1590s, variant of chock "give a blow under the chin" (1580s), possibly from French choquer "to shock, strike against," imitative (see shock (n.1)). Meaning "pat playfully, give ablow to" is from 1610s. Related: Chucked; chucking...."piece of wood," 1670s; "piece of me</section></a></div><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8" style="padding:10px 20px"><div><a class="recommended-word" rel="nofollow" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of chaw" href="/word/chaw"><div class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="font-size:18px">chaw<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></div><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined word__etymology_limit_line--3DeZW" style="cursor:pointer">OED notes that the variant form chow was "very common in 16-17th c."...</section></a></div><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8" style="padding:10px 20px"><div><a class="recommended-word" rel="nofollow" data-recommended-type="other_relation" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of fare" href="/word/fare"><div class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="font-size:18px">fare<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></div><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined word__etymology_limit_line--3DeZW" style="cursor:pointer">Old English fær "journey, road, passage, expedition," from strong neuter of faran "to journey" (see fare (v.)); merged with faru "journey, expedition, companions, baggage," strong fem. of faran. Original sense is obsolete, except in compounds (wayfarer, sea-faring, etc.) Meaning </section></a></div><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8" style="padding:10px 20px"><div><a class="recommended-word" rel="nofollow" data-recommended-type="other_relation" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of fear" href="/word/fear"><div class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="font-size:18px">fear<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></div><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined word__etymology_limit_line--3DeZW" style="cursor:pointer">Middle English fere, from Old English fær "calamity, sudden danger, peril, sudden attack," from Proto-Germanic *feraz "danger" (source also of Old Saxon far "ambush," Old Norse far "harm, distress, deception," Dutch gevaar, German Gefahr "danger"), from PIE *pēr-, a lengthened fo</section></a></div><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8" style="padding:10px 20px"><div><a class="recommended-word" rel="nofollow" data-recommended-type="other_relation" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of east" href="/word/east"><div class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="font-size:18px">east<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></div><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined word__etymology_limit_line--3DeZW" style="cursor:pointer">Old English east, eastan (adj., adv.) "east, easterly, eastward;" easte (n.), from Proto-Germanic *aust- "east," literally "toward the sunrise" (source also of Old Frisian ast "east," aster "eastward," Dutch oost Old Saxon ost, Old High German ostan, German Ost, Old Norse austr "</section></a></div><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8" style="padding:10px 20px"><div><a class="recommended-word" rel="nofollow" data-recommended-type="other_relation" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of seat" href="/word/seat"><div class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="font-size:18px">seat<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></div><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined word__etymology_limit_line--3DeZW" style="cursor:pointer">c. 1200, sete, "thing to sit on; place one sits," from Old Norse sæti "seat, position," both from Proto-Germanic *sæt- (source also of Old High German saze, Middle Dutch gesaete "seat," Old High German gisazi, German Gesäß "buttocks"), from PIE root *sed- (1) "to sit." Old Englis</section></a></div><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8" style="padding:10px 20px"><div><a class="recommended-word" rel="nofollow" data-recommended-type="complete" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of lie" href="/word/lie"><div class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="font-size:18px">lie<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></div><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined word__etymology_limit_line--3DeZW" style="cursor:pointer">"speak falsely, tell an untruth for the purpose of misleading," Middle English lien, from Old English legan, ligan, earlier leogan "deceive, belie, betray" (class II strong verb; past tense leag, past participle logen), from Proto-Germanic *leuganan (source also of Old Norse ljug</section></a></div><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8" style="padding:10px 20px"><div><a class="recommended-word" rel="nofollow" data-recommended-type="complete" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of Amazon" href="/word/Amazon"><div class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="font-size:18px">Amazon<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></div><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined word__etymology_limit_line--3DeZW" style="cursor:pointer">late 14c., "one of a race of female warriors in Scythia," via Old French (13c.) or Latin, from Greek Amazon (mostly in plural Amazones), probably from an unknown non-Indo-European word, or possibly from an Iranian compound *ha-maz-an- "(one) fighting together" [Watkins]. But in f</section></a></div><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8" style="padding:10px 20px"><div><a class="recommended-word" rel="nofollow" data-recommended-type="complete" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of coroner" href="/word/coroner"><div class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="font-size:18px">coroner<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></div><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined word__etymology_limit_line--3DeZW" style="cursor:pointer">title of a county or municipal officer with certain duties, mid-14c. (mid-13c. as a surname), corouner, from Anglo-French curuner, from Anglo-Latin custos placitorum coronae (late 12c.), originally the title of the officer with the duty of protecting the private property of the r</section></a></div><div style="clear:both"></div></div><div class="word--C9UPa word_4pc--2SZw8" style="padding:10px 20px"><div><a class="recommended-word" rel="nofollow" data-recommended-type="complete" style="margin-bottom:5px;display:block" title="Origin and meaning of draconian" href="/word/draconian"><div class="word__name--TTbAA word_thumbnail__name--1khEg" style="font-size:18px">draconian<span class="word_thumbnail__name_icon--2RFFN"><i class="fa fa-chevron-right" style="font-size:16px"></i></span></div><section class="word__defination--2q7ZH undefined word__etymology_limit_line--3DeZW" style="cursor:pointer">1759, "of or pertaining to Draco," the ancient Greek statesman; 1777, in reference to laws, "rigorous, extremely severe or harsh" (earlier Draconic, which is implied from 1640s). Draco is the Latinized form of Greek Drakon, name of the archon of Athens who laid down a code of law</section></a></div><div style="clear:both"></div></div></div></div><div class="share-tool socialShare--223YS"><h3 title="Share chow to social networks" class="socialShare__title--34iP2">Share <i>chow</i></h3><div class="cite--1qJ-_ share-cite">‘<!-- -->cite<!-- -->’</div><a title="Share on Facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etymonline.com%2Fword%2Fchow" data-social-target="Facebook" target="blank" rel="nofollow" class="fa share socialShare__icon--3FJac socialShare__icon__facebook--2fm3U fa-facebook"></a><a title="Share on Twitter" href="https://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etymonline.com%2Fword%2Fchow&text=chow%20%7C%20Etymology%20of%20chow%20by%20etymonline" data-social-target="Twitter" target="blank" rel="nofollow" class="fa share socialShare__icon--3FJac socialShare__icon__twitter--1iFxf fa-twitter"></a><a title="Share on Reddit" href="https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etymonline.com%2Fword%2Fchow&title=chow%20%7C%20Etymology%20of%20chow%20by%20etymonline" data-social-target="Reddit" target="blank" rel="nofollow" class="fa share socialShare__icon--3FJac socialShare__icon__reddit--30bBu fa-reddit"></a><a title="Share on Email" href="mailto:?subject=chow%20%7C%20Etymology%20of%20chow%20by%20etymonline&body=%22food%2C%22%20originally%20especially%20%22Chinese%20food%2C%22%201856%2C%20American%20English%20(originally%20in%E2%80%A6%20See%20origin%20and%20meaning%20of%20chow.%0Afrom%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etymonline.com%2Fword%2Fchow%20Find%20out%20more%20at%20etymonline.com" data-social-target="Email" target="blank" rel="nofollow" class="fa share socialShare__icon--3FJac socialShare__icon__email--3hVBm fa-email"></a><div class="cite__content--3ghsO cite-content"><div class="cite__content_title--3ABWh">Page URL:</div><textarea class="cite__content_textarea--3zgJO cite-textarea" readonly="">https://www.etymonline.com/word/chow</textarea><div class="cite__content_title--3ABWh">HTML Link:</div><textarea class="cite__content_textarea--3zgJO cite-textarea" readonly=""><a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/chow">Etymology of chow by etymonline</a></textarea><div class="cite__content_title--3ABWh">APA style:</div><textarea class="cite__content_textarea--3zgJO cite-textarea" readonly="">Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of chow. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/chow</textarea><div class="cite__content_title--3ABWh">Chicago style:</div><textarea class="cite__content_textarea--3zgJO cite-textarea" readonly="">Harper Douglas, “Etymology of chow,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/chow.</textarea><div class="cite__content_title--3ABWh">MLA style:</div><textarea class="cite__content_textarea--3zgJO cite-textarea" readonly="">Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of chow.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/chow. Accessed $(datetimeMla).</textarea><div class="cite__content_title--3ABWh">IEEE style:</div><textarea class="cite__content_textarea--3zgJO cite-textarea" readonly="">D. Harper. “Etymology of chow.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/chow (accessed $(datetime)).</textarea></div></div><p class="wordDetail__date--3r7r8">updated on December 02, 2017</p><div data-ad-container="true" class="adContainer--6CVz1 vertical" style="margin-top:1em"><span class="adLabel--35hfi">Advertisement</span><ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7093273770345366" style="display:block;width:100%" data-ad-slot="7656336158" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins></div></div><div class="ant-col-xs-24 ant-col-sm-24 ant-col-md-24 ant-col-lg-6"><div data-ad-container="true" class="adContainer--6CVz1 removeAdsContainer--3mV2b horizontal"><a href="/premium?utm_source=remove_ads"><div class="removeAdsBtn--2W3KN">Remove ads ></div></a><span class="adLabel--35hfi">Advertisement</span><div id="div-gpt-ad-pc-wd-right" style="min-width:300px;min-height:250px"></div></div><div class="alphabetical--2oTZG"><h3 title="words in alphabetical order" class="h3_title">Dictionary entries near <i>chow</i></h3><a title="Origin and meaning of chorus" target="" rel="nofollow" href="/word/chorus"><p class="alphabetical__word--3UeP2">chorus</p></a><a title="Origin and meaning of chose" target="" rel="nofollow" href="/word/chose"><p class="alphabetical__word--3UeP2">chose</p></a><a title="Origin and meaning of chosen" target="" rel="nofollow" href="/word/chosen"><p class="alphabetical__word--3UeP2">chosen</p></a><a title="Origin and meaning of chou" target="" rel="nofollow" href="/word/chou"><p class="alphabetical__word--3UeP2">chou</p></a><a title="Origin and meaning of chouse" target="" rel="nofollow" href="/word/chouse"><p class="alphabetical__word--3UeP2">chouse</p></a><p class="alphabetical__word--3UeP2 alphabetical__active--FCYcm">chow</p><a title="Origin and meaning of chow mein" target="" rel="nofollow" href="/word/chow%20mein"><p class="alphabetical__word--3UeP2">chow mein</p></a><a title="Origin and meaning of chowder" target="" rel="nofollow" href="/word/chowder"><p class="alphabetical__word--3UeP2">chowder</p></a><a title="Origin and meaning of chrestomathy" target="" rel="nofollow" href="/word/chrestomathy"><p class="alphabetical__word--3UeP2">chrestomathy</p></a><a title="Origin and meaning of Chris" target="" rel="nofollow" href="/word/Chris"><p class="alphabetical__word--3UeP2">Chris</p></a><a title="Origin and meaning of chrism" target="" rel="nofollow" href="/word/chrism"><p class="alphabetical__word--3UeP2">chrism</p></a></div></div></div></div><div class="alphabet--3sMXd"><ul class="alphabet__inner--2NEtM"><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter A"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=a">A</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter B"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=b">B</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter C"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=c">C</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter D"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=d">D</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter E"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=e">E</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter F"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=f">F</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter G"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=g">G</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter H"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=h">H</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter I"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=i">I</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter J"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=j">J</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter K"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=k">K</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter L"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=l">L</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter M"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=m">M</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter N"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=n">N</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter O"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=o">O</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter P"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=p">P</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter Q"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=q">Q</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter R"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=r">R</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter S"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=s">S</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter T"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=t">T</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter U"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=u">U</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter V"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=v">V</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter W"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=w">W</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter X"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=x">X</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter Y"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=y">Y</a></li><li class="alphabet__node--huwT8" title="Prefix, suffix and words starting with the letter Z"><a rel="nofollow" href="/search?q=z">Z</a></li></ul></div><div class="footer--zLQrv"><div class="footer__info--3VNMU"><div class="footer__info_inner--1aVeV"><div><p class="footer__info_title--3LoBd">LINKS</p><a rel="" href="https://forum.etymonline.com" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">Forum</a><a rel="nofollow" href="/columns/post/sources" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">Full List of Sources</a><a rel="nofollow" href="/columns/post/links" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">Links</a></div><div><p class="footer__info_title--3LoBd">PRODUCTS</p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id813629612?pt=33423801&ct=etymonline_footer&mt=8" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">iOS App</a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.etymonline.app&referrer=utm_source%3Detymonline_webfooter" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">Android App</a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/etymonline/giehjnnlopapngdjbjjgddpaagoimmgl?utm_source=link_footer" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">Chrome Extension</a></div><div><p class="footer__info_title--3LoBd">ABOUT</p><a rel="nofollow" href="/columns/post/bio" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">Who Did This</a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.etymonline.com/columns/post/abbr" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">Introduction and Explanation</a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/etymonline?utm_source=etymonline_footer&utm_medium=link_exchange" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">Follow on Facebook</a></div><div><p class="footer__info_title--3LoBd">SUPPORT</p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=byronic106@yahoo.com&lc=US&item_name=Donation+to +Help+Keep+Etymonline+Free+and+Open&no_note=0&cn=&curency_code=USD&bn=PP-DonationsBF:btn_donateCC_LG.gif:NonHosted" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">Donate with PayPal</a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/godgifu/shop?artistUserName=godgifu&collections=1692216&utm_source=etymonline_footer" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">Ye Olde Swag Shoppe</a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.patreon.com/etymonline?utm_source=etymonline.com&utm_campaign=footer_link&utm_medium=website" class="footer__info_node--3T-ZQ">Support on Patreon</a></div></div></div><div class="footer__link--1RSEJ footer__link_padding--1oYre"><div class="footer__link_inner--KP2Wz"><div><a href="mailto:etymonline@protonmail.com" title="Douglas Harper" rel="nofollow">© 2001-2025<!-- --> <!-- -->Douglas Harper</a><span style="color:#888"> | </span><a href="https://www.etymonline.com/legal/terms" title="Terms of Service" rel="nofollow">Terms of Service</a><span style="color:#888"> | </span><a href="https://www.etymonline.com/legal/privacy" title="Privacy Policy" rel="nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></div><div style="position:relative"><span id="language-change" class="footer__language_label--1E9_x">English (English)<!-- --> <svg width="10" height="12" viewBox="0 0 10 12" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M5 0L0 5H10L5 0ZM0 7L5 12L10 7H0Z" fill="#858585"></path></svg></span><ul id="language-selector" class="footer__language--H9nbK"><li class="footer__language_item--1nkwO" style="display:none"><a href="/word/chow">English (English)</a></li><li class="footer__language_item--1nkwO"><a href="/cn/word/chow">简体中文 (Chinese)</a></li><li class="footer__language_item--1nkwO"><a href="/de/word/chow">Deutsch (German)</a></li><li class="footer__language_item--1nkwO"><a href="/es/word/chow">Español (Spanish)</a></li><li class="footer__language_item--1nkwO"><a href="/fr/word/chow">Français (French)</a></li><li class="footer__language_item--1nkwO"><a href="/it/word/chow">Italiano (Italian)</a></li><li class="footer__language_item--1nkwO"><a href="/jp/word/chow">日本語 (Japanese)</a></li><li class="footer__language_item--1nkwO"><a href="/kr/word/chow">한국어 (Korean)</a></li><li class="footer__language_item--1nkwO"><a href="/pt/word/chow">Português (Portuguese)</a></li><li class="footer__language_item--1nkwO"><a href="/tw/word/chow">繁體中文 (Chinese)</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div><div class="backtop"><div class="backtop-content"><i class="fa fa-arrow-up"></i></div></div></div></div></div> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-YGHSRMYRTV"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-YGHSRMYRTV', { 'custom_map': {'dimension1': 'UserRole'} }); gtag('event', 'user_role_set', {'UserRole': 'guest'}); </script> <script data-react-helmet="true" src="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/jquery-3.2.1.min.js"></script><script data-react-helmet="true" src="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/remove-ads-iconfont.js?t=10"></script><script data-react-helmet="true" src="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/plugins.2ad87a733ad1b7fbd7d2.js" async="true"></script><script data-react-helmet="true" type="text/javascript"> 'use strict';var extensionBait=document.querySelector('.extensionHint'),isChrome=navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Chrome')>-1,bannerExtension=document.querySelector('.bait'),hintClose=document.querySelector('.hint-closer');!extensionBait||!isChrome||bannerExtension||window.localStorage.getItem('etymonline-extension-installed')||window.localStorage.getItem('extension_banner_clicked')||setTimeout(function(){extensionBait.style.marginTop=0},1e3),hintClose&&hintClose.addEventListener('click',function(){extensionBait.style.marginTop='-64px',window.localStorage.setItem('extension_banner_clicked',!0)}),extensionBait&&extensionBait.addEventListener('click',function(){}); </script><script data-react-helmet="true" type="application/ld+json"> [{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://www.etymonline.com#website", "url": "https://www.etymonline.com", "name": "Etymonline", "alternateName": "Online Etymology Dictionary", "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": "https://www.etymonline.com/search?q={search_term_string}&utm_campaign=sd&utm_medium=serp&utm_source=ds_search", "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebPage", "name": "chow | Etymology of chow by etymonline", "url": "https://www.etymonline.com/word/chow", "description": "food, originally especially Chinese food, 1856, American English (originally in… See origin and meaning of chow.", "inLanguage": "en", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://www.etymonline.com#website" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": ["DefinedTermSet", "Book"], "@id": "https://www.etymonline.com", "name": "Dictionary and etymology by etymonline", "description": "An online etymology dictionary providing the origin and history of English words" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "DefinedTerm", "@id": "https://www.etymonline.com/word/chow", "name": "chow", "inDefinedTermSet": "https://www.etymonline.com" }] </script><script data-react-helmet="true" >"serviceWorker"in navigator&&navigator.serviceWorker.getRegistrations().then(function(e){for(let r of e)r.unregister()});</script><script data-react-helmet="true" >googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/21669543020/pc_wd_right', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-pc-wd-right').setTargeting("refresh", 'true').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/21669543020/pc_wd_top', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-pc-wd-top').setTargeting("refresh", 'true').addService(googletag.pubads()); var SECONDS_TO_WAIT_AFTER_VIEWABILITY = 105; // Object to keep track of the number of refreshes per slot var slotRefreshes = {}; googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { var slot = event.slot; // Initialize the count for this slot if it's the first time if (!slotRefreshes[slot.getSlotElementId()]) { slotRefreshes[slot.getSlotElementId()] = 0; } if (slot.getTargeting("refresh").indexOf("true") > -1) { const refreshTime = Math.floor(Math.random() * 15) + SECONDS_TO_WAIT_AFTER_VIEWABILITY; // Only refresh the slot if it has been refreshed less than 3 times if (slotRefreshes[slot.getSlotElementId()] < 3) { setTimeout(function() { console.log("reload", slot.getSlotElementId()); apstag.fetchBids({ slots: [{ slotID: slot.getSlotElementId(), slotName: slot.getAdUnitPath(), sizes: slot.getSizes().map(function(size) { return [size.getWidth(), size.getHeight()]; }) }], timeout: 2e3 }, function(bids) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { apstag.setDisplayBids(); googletag.pubads().refresh([slot]); }); }); // Increment the refresh count for this slot slotRefreshes[slot.getSlotElementId()]++; }, refreshTime * 1000); } } }); googletag.pubads().disableInitialLoad(); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script><script data-react-helmet="true" >!function(a9,a,p,s,t,A,g){if(a[a9])return;function q(c,r){a[a9]._Q.push([c,r])}a[a9]={init:function(){q("i",arguments)},fetchBids:function(){q("f",arguments)},setDisplayBids:function(){},targetingKeys:function(){return[]},_Q:[]};A=p.createElement(s);A.async=!0;A.src=t;g=p.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];g.parentNode.insertBefore(A,g)}("apstag",window,document,"script","//c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/apstag.js"); apstag.init({ pubID: '7013ff7d-a08e-4dca-9729-1643e28c88b5', adServer: 'googletag' }); // Fetch bids from APS apstag.fetchBids({ slots: [{ slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-pc-wd-right', slotName: '/21669543020/pc_wd_right', sizes: [[300, 250]] }, { slotID: 'div-gpt-ad-pc-wd-top', slotName: '/21669543020/pc_wd_top', sizes: [[728, 90]] }], timeout: 2e3 }, function(bids) { // Set apstag targeting on googletag, then display the slots googletag.cmd.push(function(){ apstag.setDisplayBids(); googletag.pubads().refresh(); }); googletag.cmd.push(function(){ googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-pc-wd-right'); googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-pc-wd-top'); }); }); </script><script data-react-helmet="true" > function generateChart() { const startYear = 1800; const data = [{"label":"chow (n.)","data":[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,3.8190861554691463e-7,3.999561637139474e-7,4.323504427361513e-7,4.7256692852215566e-7,4.7655287621258443e-7,4.932713196126314e-7,5.161117400120929e-7,5.554031001035279e-7,5.578896055643175e-7,5.669959061075739e-7,5.703982916808552e-7,5.714922091707801e-7,5.760976099130252e-7,5.473312815714355e-7,5.216317807329082e-7,5.409601025500403e-7,5.350929901245157e-7,5.159358219467928e-7,4.855574464575815e-7,4.771212502419076e-7,4.6183786821529794e-7,4.5140739265055646e-7,4.1920272716803687e-7,3.977207256866677e-7,3.6796460278765153e-7,3.614586347566728e-7,3.4168526118113127e-7,3.122806665108631e-7,3.007203029407416e-7,2.80032916559018e-7,2.4413620849372817e-7,2.4550820967306206e-7,2.413792572042439e-7,2.4210973113743726e-7,2.4218548636175307e-7,2.582273225470999e-7,2.627184092792353e-7,2.6992099909269505e-7,2.7708693058533146e-7,2.7947586905459806e-7,2.840959998214506e-7,2.8129435634127733e-7,2.819349854613999e-7,2.8196697693753473e-7,2.8006292041027336e-7,2.8072538119279976e-7,2.6781611476659844e-7,2.6259309890974693e-7,2.6188966160134444e-7,2.51984260065304e-7,2.3317699723672073e-7,2.229599867102176e-7,2.13517148495157e-7,1.9993304173719176e-7,1.998250165039887e-7,2.037665315886746e-7,2.2197458899123982e-7,2.218433564848965e-7,2.208097043876478e-7,2.2636165605642115e-7,2.3407415028486867e-7,2.4412886716618233e-7,2.4604181495154386e-7,2.482463372643906e-7,2.571503586068502e-7,2.6581349459320337e-7,2.7115860348203567e-7,2.7075651019004e-7,2.7725825664977794e-7,2.820191355112911e-7,2.806223183900632e-7,2.718621412138115e-7,2.7873189196725433e-7,2.7995618173311717e-7,2.8162634938174357e-7,2.802269136736868e-7,2.8308093267999843e-7,2.8853324162507004e-7,2.8883818572467133e-7,2.935230857777545e-7,3.1178595160478533e-7,3.3738900053018974e-7,3.711819942964212e-7,3.844226190115781e-7,3.8891516093523627e-7,3.951603711508748e-7,3.943683168472489e-7,3.927377216920528e-7,3.998136151039944e-7,4.0199262798523703e-7,4.095729120005368e-7,4.0987120731491207e-7,4.075673530223867e-7,4.06826899279622e-7,4.0243170550032423e-7,3.882696167541629e-7,3.649830129385615e-7,3.361581188225197e-7,3.2638587299516075e-7,3.242617481191701e-7,3.1597833943427153e-7,3.1295195223416765e-7,3.0967592579145276e-7,3.030867768908744e-7,3.1135255843158426e-7,3.0570425716784183e-7,3.026423712526594e-7,3.0507485462294424e-7,3.080305627160366e-7,3.13685268338304e-7,3.1479837995599763e-7,3.1680660299571174e-7,3.2046220894699217e-7,3.21250308843446e-7,3.2519329427789976e-7,3.3052035443385344e-7,3.365226708259191e-7,3.400556655227168e-7,3.451644677928319e-7,3.4287945140931695e-7,3.469725318912727e-7,3.505687099429148e-7,3.531420986746525e-7,3.575258688215399e-7,3.54860295222655e-7,3.5481040754348215e-7,3.565385801114947e-7,3.5418824685014745e-7,3.5672884071876375e-7,3.5362743346922796e-7,3.5311417339774683e-7,3.5075508246033377e-7,3.473511261139114e-7,3.4398647888641186e-7,3.4168447958412194e-7,3.376208439931361e-7,3.350880395676844e-7,3.3740268274110955e-7,3.3846729365905046e-7,3.4578011991470704e-7,3.5311030425570305e-7,3.588621495964617e-7,3.6768766070357136e-7,3.742934154615796e-7,3.84420879602961e-7,3.916298737749457e-7,4.0510199520819395e-7,4.239364235066508e-7,4.4219031944218535e-7,4.6015997933560964e-7,4.75985664631177e-7,4.924240272430324e-7,4.985216605746246e-7,5.022646822302097e-7,5.011472069327283e-7,4.962917008318376e-7,4.956268166248871e-7,4.970699458389001e-7,5.010989153876066e-7,5.02806507540754e-7,5.071783949584973e-7,5.055216291793841e-7,4.985603602057786e-7,4.878886379344749e-7]}]; const datasets = data.map(dataset => { return { label: dataset.label, data: dataset.data.map((value, index) => { return { x: startYear + index, y: value * 1e6 }; }), fill: false, tension: 0.1, pointRadius: 1, pointHitRadius: 3, }; }); const ctx = document.getElementById('ngram-chart').getContext('2d'); const chart=new Chart(ctx,{type:"line",data:{datasets:datasets},options:{maintainAspectRatio:false,responsive:true,interaction:{mode:"index",intersect:false},scales:{x:{type:"linear",title:{display:false},ticks:{autoSkip:true,maxTicksLimit:20,callback:function(value){return value.toString().replace(/,/g,"")}},min:1800,max:2019},y:{type:"linear",title:{display:true,text:"Frequency (per million)"}}},plugins:{tooltip:{mode:"index",callbacks:{title:function(context){const firstPoint=context[0];return firstPoint.parsed.x.toString().replace(/,/g,"")}}},legend:{display: datasets.length > 1,labels:{color:"#83001d",font:{size:14,weight:"bold"}},onHover:function(event,legendItem,legend){event.native.target.style.cursor="pointer"},onLeave:function(event,legendItem,legend){event.native.target.style.cursor="default"}}}},plugins:[{beforeDatasetsDraw:(chart)=>{if(chart.tooltip?._active?.length){let x=chart.tooltip._active[0].element.x;let yAxis=chart.scales.y;let ctx=chart.ctx;ctx.save();ctx.beginPath();ctx.moveTo(x,yAxis.top);ctx.lineTo(x,yAxis.bottom);ctx.lineWidth=1;ctx.strokeStyle="#9b9b9b";ctx.stroke();ctx.restore()}}}]}); } </script><script data-react-helmet="true" src="https://cdn.etymonline.com/projects/etymonline-main-v3/chart.js" onLoad="generateChart()" async="true"></script><script data-react-helmet="true" > $('.share-cite').click(function(e) { $(this).toggleClass('cite-checked'); const checked = $(this).hasClass('cite-checked'); if (checked) { $('.cite-content').slideDown() } else { $('.cite-content').slideUp() } }) function selectText(element) { if (document.selection) { var range = document.body.createTextRange(); range.moveToElementText(element); range.select(); } else if (window.getSelection) { var range = document.createRange(); range.selectNodeContents(element); window.getSelection().removeAllRanges(); window.getSelection().addRange(range); } } $('.cite-textarea').click(function () { selectText($(this)[0]) }); $(document).ready(function () { const monthNames = ["January", "February", "March", "April", "May", "June", "July", "August", "September", "October", "November", "December"]; const d = new Date(), month = monthNames[d.getMonth()], day = '' + d.getDate(), year = d.getFullYear(); $(".cite-textarea").each(function (i, e) { const newText = $(this).text() .replace('$(datetime)', month + " " + day + "," + " " + year) .replace('$(datetimeMla)', day + " " + month + "," + " " + year) $(this).text(newText) }); setTimeout(() => {const hash='#'+(window.location.hash.substring(1)||'_');const offset = $(hash).offset();if (offset) $([document.documentElement, document.body]).animate({scrollTop: offset.top}, 300);}, 500); }); </script><script data-react-helmet="true" type="text/javascript">'use strict';function addADJS(){var b=document.createElement('script');b.src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7093273770345366',b.async=!0,document.body.appendChild(b)}var script=document.createElement('script');document.querySelectorAll('.adsbygoogle').forEach(function(){script.text+='(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});'});addADJS();document.body.appendChild(script);</script><script data-react-helmet="true" > $(window).on('scroll', function() { if($(this).scrollTop() > 300) { $('.backtop').show('fast') } else { $('.backtop').hide('fast') } }) $('.backtop').click(function() { $('body,html').animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 500) }) </script> </body> </html>