To silence, to put a stop to. Cobbett, 1818. N.E.D.
1841. When did modern Democracy ever give up an office? When she was choked off, and not otherwise.—Mr. Arnold of Tenn., House of Repr., Dec. 23: Cong. Globe, p. 55.
1848. I spent a couple of hours in the House, amused by watching … our Representatives. The operation of “choking off” a speaker was very funny, and reminded me of the lawless conduct of fighting schoolboys.—N.Y. Express, Feb. 21 (Bartlett).
1910. Had the effort to choke off Mr. Burleson’s motion for the deposition of Speaker Cannon succeeded, had the House adjourned immediately after passing the Norris resolution, there would have been a breathing-spell.—N.Y. Evening Post, March 21.
