chow chow
5
7.2
- noun
- /ˈchaʊ ˈchaʊ/
:
chow chow
- The chow chow is known for its thick double coat and distinctive blue-black tongue.
- Chinese chow chow
- chow chows are known
Examples
-
She has made wool from about 30 breeds of dog, including Alsatians and chow chows, and had about 200 customers.
Blog text (24) -
Mrs. Silverstein, the woman with the calfskin handbag, is an elderly woman who takes great care with her appearance and who also owns a dog, a chow-chow.
Fiction book (1997) -
In our dog show, the chow chow impressed the judges with its fluffy tail and unique features.
-
Many people admire chow chows for their regal appearance and loyal temperament.
Synonyms
15
8.2
A medium-sized dog with thick fur, a curled tail, and a blue-black tongue
How Friendly
Surface Forms
Morphology
Knowing 'chow' as a type of dog lets a learner infer that 'chow chow' refers to a dog (the core referent is transparent), but the reduplicated form is a lexicalized breed name borrowed from Chinese and its specific attributes (blue‑black tongue, origin, coat details) are not predictable from the constituents alone. Because only the general category is derivable while the precise breed meaning is conventionalized, this is best classified as partially transparent.
Etymology
Chow chow may come from a word sailors and traders used for a box of 'mixed goods' from China. When these travelers brought dogs home and used the same label, chow chow became the name for this Chinese dog breed.