v. Forms: 4–5 chowen, 6 chowe, 6– chow. A variant form of CHEW in all senses, formerly in general use, but now dialectal, extending from Scotland to the Midland counties.

1

1382.  Wyclif, Deut. xiv. 7. Thei chowen code [elsewhere in the chap. chewen].

2

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 77. Chowen supra in chewen.

3

1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 23. It is the harder to eate and chowe. Ibid., § 79. Euer to be chowynge on the brydell.

4

1556.  Abp. Parker, Psalter 3. Verse harde in mouth while oft I chowde I spied therein no wast.

5

a. 1774.  Fergusson, Hallowfair, Poems (1845), 13. What will buy her fairin To chow that day.

6

1786.  Burns, Scotch Drink, iv. On thee [John Barleycorn] aft Scotland chows her cood, In souple scones, the wale o’ food!

7

1863.  Atkinson, Provinc. Danby, Chow, to chew.

8

1887.  Stevenson, Underwoods, II. i. 78. You, tae, maun chow the bitter peel.

9

Mod. Northampt. Dialect.  He chows tobacco always.

10


  Chow, Sc. var. of choul, JOWL; or CHAW sb.1

11