chock full

• chocked full, chock-full, chockfull, choke-full
• chuck-full, chuck full (dated)

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.[1]

The later form chock-a-block full is due to association with chock, used in carpentry and shipbuilding.

• IPA^(key): /ˌtʃɒk ˈfʊl/

chock full (comparative more chock full, superlative most chock full)

1. (informal) Containing the maximum amount possible, flush on all sides, jam-packed, crammed.

   That article is chock-full of errors

   • 1741, George E. Nitzsche, The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle, University of Pennsylvania. General Alumni Society, pages 251:

     The pages of the diary are chock full of fascinating reports of medical incidents of all sorts.

   • 1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, OCLC 145080417, page 565:

     “Chock full o' science,” said the radiant Captain, “as ever he was! […] ”

   • 1928 August, E. E. Smith, “The Skylark of Space”, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories‎, Preface:

     The story is chock full, not only of excellent science, but woven through it there is also that very rare element, love and romance.

• chock-a-block
• chock-a-block full