It's Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 11th.

Today's word is Chalkablock, spelled as one word, C-H-O-C-K-A-B-L-O-C-K, Chaka-A is an adjective.

Something described as Chaka Block is very full or tightly packed. Here's the word used in a

sentence from NPR by Ari Shapiro. The official Taylor Swift online store is Chalka Block with earrings, hoodies, vinyl, and other merchandise, promoting the Star's latest record-breaking album, The Tortured Poets Department.

Though it's now more often used by landlubbers, the word chock a block has a nautical history.

On board a sailing vessel, the word chock, chock, chock, chock, chock, c-o-c-c-c-c-c-c-c- can refer to a wedge or block that is pressed up against an

object to keep it from moving on land wheel chocks prevent vehicles from

rolling while a block and tackle system combines

pulleys, often in cases called blocks, and rope or cable to provide mechanical

advantage for hoisting and hauling.

Using a block and tackle to hoist a sail on a traditional sailing ship,

there's a point when the rope or cable is pulled as far as it will go.

The blocks at that point are tight together and said to be chock-a-block.

They can no longer move, as if they are being checked by a chalk.

When non-Nautical types associated the chalk of chock a block with chalk full from the middle English

adjective meaning full to the limit, likely a figurative use of full to the choking, they gave Chaca Block the additional meaning

filled up. Chaca Block can also be an adverb, meaning as close or as completely as possible as in dorms full of students living chock-a-block or

the seemingly redundant chock-a-block full.

With your word of the day I'm Peter Sokolowski.

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