choke

choke
\ \ [14] Etymologically, to choke is to cut off air by constricting the ‘cheeks’, for it is a derivative of cēoce, the Old English word for ‘cheek’. There is actually such a verb recorded, just once, from Old English: the compound ācēocian, with the intensive prefix ā-; so probably the simple verb existed too, though evidence for it has not survived. The noun sense ‘valve controlling the flow of air to an engine’ dates from the 1920s, but it was a natural development from an earlier (18th-century), more general sense ‘constriction in a tube’; its parallelism with throttle, both being applied to constriction of the air passage and hence to control valves in an engine tube, is striking. (The choke of artichoke has no etymological connection with choke ‘deprive of air’.)

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Choke — may refer to: Choking, obstruction of airflow into the lungs Choke (horse), a condition in horses in which the esophagus is blocked Choking game, a schoolyard game involving deprivation of oxygen to the brain Chokehold, a grappling hold performed …   Wikipedia

  • choke — bore [ (t)ʃɔkbɔr ] ou choke [ (t)ʃɔk ] n. m. • 1878; mot angl., de to choke « étrangler » et bore « âme d un fusil » ♦ Techn. Étranglement à l extrémité du canon d un fusil de chasse pour regrouper les plombs. Des choke bores. Adjt Un canon choke …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Choke — (ch[=o]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Choked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Choking}.] [OE. cheken, choken; cf. AS. [=a]ceocian to suffocate, Icel. koka to gulp, E. chincough, cough.] 1. To render unable to breathe by filling, pressing upon, or squeezing the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • choke — [chōk] vt. choked, choking [ME choken, aphetic < OE vt. aceocian, to choke, prob. < base of ceoke, jaw, CHEEK] 1. to prevent from breathing by blocking the windpipe or squeezing the throat of; strangle; suffocate; smother; stifle 2. to… …   English World dictionary

  • Choke (EP) — Choke EP by Kiss It Goodbye Released 1999 Genre Hardcore Label Revelation Records …   Wikipedia

  • choke — (v.) c.1300, aphetic of acheken (c.1200), from O.E. aceocian to choke (with intensive a ), probably from root of ceoke jaw, cheek. Related: Choked; choking. The noun is recorded from 1560s. Meaning valve which controls air to a carburetor first… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Choke — [tʃoːk] der; s, s; ein Mechanismus im Auto, den man besonders bei kaltem Motor benutzt, um besser starten zu können <den Choke ziehen; mit gezogenem Choke fahren> …   Langenscheidt Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache

  • Choke — [tʃo:k, engl. tʃouk] der; s, s u. Choker der; s, <aus gleichbed. engl. choke zu to choke »drosseln, würgen«> Luftklappe im Vergaser (Kaltstarthilfe; Kfz Technik) …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • choke up — {v.} 1a. To come near losing calmness or self control from strong feeling; be upset by your feelings. * /When one speaker after another praised John, he choked up and couldn t thank them./ * /When Father tried to tell me how glad he was to see me …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • choke up — {v.} 1a. To come near losing calmness or self control from strong feeling; be upset by your feelings. * /When one speaker after another praised John, he choked up and couldn t thank them./ * /When Father tried to tell me how glad he was to see me …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Choke — Choke, n. 1. A stoppage or irritation of the windpipe, producing the feeling of strangulation. [1913 Webster] 2. (Gun.) (a) The tied end of a cartridge. (b) A constriction in the bore of a shotgun, case of a rocket, etc. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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