chock full

Meaning

Containing the maximum amount possible, flush on all sides, jam-packed, crammed.

Synonyms

brimful

congested

heaping

overcrowded

overflowing

replete

Translations

voller

voll bis zum Rand

ασφυκτικά γεμάτος

ξέχειλος

παραγεμισμένος

υπερπλήρης

satollo

boordevol

tjokvol

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌtʃɒk ˈfʊl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: chokkeful

In summary

From Middle English chokkeful (“crammed full”) c. 1400, possibly from choke (“cheek”), equivalent to cheek + full. Or it may be from Old French choquier (“collide, crash, hit”), similar to shock. The later form chock-a-block full is due to association with chock, used in carpentry and shipbuilding.