Is a meal that is jam-packed with scrumptious dishes referred to as 'chock'? Or when one has difficulty breathing because something is stuck in their throat, do we say they are 'chock'?
The answer is 'yes' for both. However, it can be 'chock' or 'chocked' as in 'to choke', and 'chock-full' or 'chock-a-block' as in 'very full' when used as an adjective.
To Choke
When a person has difficulty breathing because their throat has been blocked, they can be described as choking. This can happen when food, drink, or a small object gets lodged in the airway. Choking can be a serious medical emergency, and it's important to seek immediate medical attention if someone is choking. Choking can be life-threatening.
. If you see someone choking, you should perform the Heimlich maneuver to help clear their airway and save their life.
Chock-Full
The phrase 'chock-full' means "completely full" or "packed to capacity." It can be used to describe a room that is full of people, a car that is full of passengers, or a stomach that is full of food. Chock-full is an informal term, and it's often used in a humorous way. For example: "The party was chock-full of people. I could barely move!"
Etymology
The word 'chock' comes from the Middle English word 'chokken', which means "to block" or "to obstruct." It is related to the German word 'stocken', which means "to stop" or "to obstruct." The word 'choke' is first attested in the 14th century. The word 'chock-full' is first attested in the 16th century.
Words of similar meaning to 'chock' are 'block', 'jam', 'pack' and 'crowd'. Words of similar meaning to 'chock-full' are 'brimming', 'heaped', 'jam-packed' and 'stuffed'.