/chok/ , n.
1. a wedge or block of wood, metal, or the like, for filling in a space, holding an object steady, etc.
2. Naut.
a. any of various heavy metal fittings on a deck or wharf that serve as fairleads for cables or chains.
b. a shaped support or cradle for a ship's boat, barrel, etc.
c. a small wooden piece or timber for filling a gap, reinforcing an angle, etc., in a wooden vessel.
3. Metalworking. a bearing supporting the end of a rolling mill.
4. Mining. a roof support made of cribbing filled with stones. Cf. cog 3 (def. 2).
v.t.
5. to furnish with or secure by a chock or chocks.
6. Naut. to place (a boat) upon chocks.
adv.
7. as close or tight as possible: chock against the edge.
[ ME choque (cf. modern Picard choke big log, Normandy dial. chouque ), OF çoche (F soche ); of uncert. orig. ]