Choker

subs. (common).—1.  A cravat; primarily the large neckerchief once worn high round the neck. Sometimes WHITE CHOKER (q.v.), the white neckerchief peculiar to evening dress.

  ENGLISH SYNONYMS.  Neckinger; tie (this is now technical, but was formerly a slang term); crumpler.

  FRENCH SYNONYMS.  Un collier or coulant; un blave or blavin; un épiploon (students’).

  1848.  THACKERAY, The Book of Snobs, ch. i., p. 146. The usual attire of a gentleman, viz., pumps, a gold waistcoat, a crush hat, a sham frill, and a WHITE CHOKER.

  1853.  WHYTE-MELVILLE, Digby Grand, ch. xix. Cram on a wrap-rascal and a shawl CHOAKER. Never mind the gold-laced overalls and spurs.

  1853.  REV. E. BRADLEY (‘Cuthbert Bede’), The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman, pt. I., p. 72. I ’ll take off his CHOKER and make him easy about the neck, and then we ’ll shut him up and leave him. Why the beggar ’s asleep already!

  1855.  THACKERAY, The Newcomes, ch. vii. There’s Mr. Brown, who oils his hair, and wears rings, and WHITE CHOKERS—my eyes! such WHITE CHOKERS!—and yet we call him the handsome snob!

  1869.  Orchestra, 20 August. I found myself elbowing a fellow-countryman in a button-up waistcoat, and WHITE CHOKER!

  1871.  London Figaro, 13 May, p. 3, col. 3. ‘Bill ain’t hungry this morning,’ she repeated; ‘or the cove with the WHITE CHOKER ’ud be safe to collar. But look!’

  2.  (popular).—An all-round collar. Cf., ALL-ROUNDER.

  1869.  New York Herald, 6 Sept. ‘Prince Arthur in Canada.’ A neat and elegant black dress coat, closely buttoned, pants of a light drab hue, a CHOKER collar of enormous size, and a black silk tie, were the garments most conspicuous.

  3.  (common).—A garotter.—See WIND-STOPPER.

  4.  (thieves’).—A cell; prison; lock up.—See CHOKEY.

  1884.  St. James’s Gazette, Jan. 4, p. 12. He preferred to go to CHOKER.

  5.  (thieves’).—The hangman’s rope or ‘squeezer’; a halter. For synonyms, see HORSE’S NIGHTCAP.

  WHITE-CHOKER, subs. (common).—A clergyman. [In allusion to the white ties worn by ‘the cloth.’] For synonyms, see DEVIL-DODGER.

  1849.  Punch’s Almanack. The Swell Mobsman’s Almanack. Plant about Exeter ’All, in May take old ladies on way to ’All, as they generally hempties into the plate. The VITE CHOKERS may be fingured on their way ’ome as they mostly brings hoff a pocketful.

  1852.  The Comic Almanack. ‘Modes of addressing persons of various ranks.’ The Clergy as a body, you will speak of as the ‘WHITE CHOKERS.’ The Lay Aristocracy are simply styled ‘The Nobs.’