fitted to supply a deficiency or defect after the manner of filling.
Also, blocks of timber latterly substituted beneath the beams for knees,
and wedged by iron keys. (_See_ BOAT-CHOCKS.)--_Chock of the bowsprit._
_See_ BEND.--_Chocks of the rudder_, large accurately adapted pieces of
timber kept in readiness to choak the rudder, by filling up the
excavation on the side of the rudder hole, in case of any accident. It
is also choaked or chocked, when a ship is likely to get strong
stern-way, when tiller-ropes break, &c.--_To chock_, is to put a wedge
under anything to prevent its rolling. (_See_ CHUCK.)

CHOCK-A-BLOCK, OR CHOCK AND BLOCK. Is the same with _block-a-block_ and
_two-blocks_ (which see). When the lower block of a tackle is run close
up to the upper one, so that you can hoist no higher, the blocks being
together.

CHOCK-AFT, CHOCK-FULL, CHOCK-HOME, CHOCK-UP, &c. Denote as far aft,
full, home, up, &c., as possible, or that which fits closely to one
another.

CHOCK-CHANNELS. Those filled in with wood between the chain-plates,
according to a plan introduced by Captain Couch, R.N.

CHOCOLATE-GALE. A brisk N.W. wind of the West Indies and Spanish main.

CHOGSET. _See_ BURGALL.

CHOKE. The nip of a rocket.

CHOKED. When a running rope sticks in a block, either by slipping
between the cheeks and the shiver, or any other accident, so that it
cannot run.

CHOKE-FULL. Entirely full; top full.

CHOKE THE LUFF. To place suddenly the fall of a tackle close to the
block across the jaw of the next turn of the rope in the block, so as to
prevent the leading part from rendering. Familiarly said of having a
meal to assuage hunger; to be silenced.

CHOKEY. An East Indian guard-house and prison.

CHOMMERY. _See_ CHASSE MAREES, for which this is the men's term.

CHOP. A permit or license of departure for merchant ships in the China
trade. A Chinese word signifying quality. Also, an imperial chop or
mandate; a proclamation.

CHOP, OR CHAPP. The entrance of a channel, as the Chops of the English
Channel.

CHOP-ABOUT, TO. Is applied to the wind when it varies and changes
suddenly, and at short intervals of time.

CHOPPING-SEA. A synonym of _cockling sea_ (which see).

CHOPT. Done suddenly in exigence; as, _chopt_ to an anchor.

CHORD. In geometry, is a line which joins the extremities of any arc of
a circle.

CHOW-CHOW. Eatables; a word borrowed from the Chinese. It is supposed to
be derived from _chou-chou_