Obs. or dial. Forms: plural, 4 chokes, chookes, 5 Sc. chokkeis, 8–9 Sc. chouks, chowks, dial. chokes, chucks. [Of uncertain relations: in some cases prob. merely a variant of CHEEK; but mod.Sc. chowk suggests ON. kjálki jaw-bone.] The fleshy parts about and under the jaws; the chops.
1330–1400. [see CHEEK sb. 2 β].
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, V. 148. Wndir the chokkeis [? cholkeis] the grounden suerd gart glid By the gude mayle bathe hals and his crag bayne In sondyr straik.
1880. Patterson, Antrim & Down Gloss., Chokes, the sides of the neck.
1880. W. Cornwall Gloss., Chuck, the under part of the face; the throat. ‘I like a pig’s chuck.’
Mod. Sc. Fat about the chowks.
Hence Choke-band dial. and Sc. (See quot.)
1808. Jamieson, Chok-band, the small strip of leather by which a bridle is fastened around the jaws of a horse.
1877. E. Peacock, N. W. Lincolnsh. Gloss., Choak-band.
