choke-dog

English

Alternative forms

• chockdog

Etymology

choke +‎ dog

Noun

choke-dog (uncountable)

1. (obsolete, British slang) A very hard cheese. Attributed variously to counties of the West Country of the United Kingdom such as Devon, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.
   • 1826 June 14, Walter Scott, edited by Douglas, David, The Journal of Sir Walter Scott‎^[1], New York: Harper & Brothers, published 1891, page 137:

     Bought a little bit of Gruyere cheese, instead of our domestic choke-dog concern. When did I ever purchase anything for my own eating? But I will say no more of that. And now to the bread-mill.

   • 1870 February, “Our Working People and How They Live: The Dorsetshire Hind”, in Good Words‎^[2], page 98:

     As I have said before, the Dorsetshire hind is undoubtedly under-fed. Bread and "choke-dog", as he calls his county's cheese, […] these are the chief items in his bill of fare.

   • 1897 August, F. J. Church, “In the Land of the Shag”, in Recreation‎^[3], volume 7, number 2, page 123:

     As there was absolutely nothing to do but to grin and bear it, we made a breakfast of smoked salmon, "choke-dog," and tea; then shouldered our packs.

2. (obsolete, US) Any of several plants in the genus Gonolobus.

Synonyms

• (cheese): Isle of Wight Rock
• (plant): angle pod

References

• John S[tephen] Farmer, compiler (1890) “choke-dog”, in Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present. […], volume I, [London: […] Thomas Poulter and Sons] […], →OCLC, page 593.: Cheese; especially that made in Devonshire."
• Wright, Joseph (1900) The English Dialect Dictionary‎^[4], volume 2, Oxford: Oxford University Press, page 99
• Nickell, James Madison (1911) J. M. Nickell's Botanical Ready Reference‎^[5], page 67: “GONOLOBUS MACROPHYLLUS. Angle Pod. Choke Dog.”