Chow/vittles

The image conjured up by the words "vittles" and "chow" are of living rough--such as a American Western movie about a cattle drive across the old west.

So, are they old-fashioned Southern American English words people don't use at the present time?

Not being as well-travelled as I would like, I would have to guess that in old southern-American communities, there would be no necessity to cease using these words. They are 'colourful' and era-sensitive. I would likely not hear them in Canada, unless deliberately used to attract tourists. That's just my opinion.

PonyFanCould you tell me whether you use "to chow" in the meaning of "to eat" and "vittles" in the meaning of "food and drink" in your daily conversation? Thanks in advance!

I never hear these words in daily conversation in the UK. To me, they sound old-fashioned and/or dialect.

I've never heard "chow" used as a verb, except in the phrase "to chow down." I've seen it used as a noun, but only as old-fashioned slang. (Though there is a website called "Chowhounds," for people interested in food.)

"Vittles" is even more old-fashioned.

"Chowhounds" is a chain of eating places, although I've never visited one.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary (online) provides, as a definition of 'Chow', "Food: Victuals".
The same dictionary explains that "vitaille" was 'Middle English' in origin (around the 15th century) and represented provisions for nourishment. Hence, "vittles" as used in a TV comedy series a while back called "The Beverly

wilpeterAmerican Western movie

Right! Here is the history of "chow"
"food," 1856, American English (originally in California), from Chinese pidgin English chow-chow (1795) "food,"
Chinese labor was used in building the rail lines across the west. Some of their words came into English. Chow-chow is a kind of relish.

"Vittles" should actually be spelled "victuals" (the pronunciation is the same for both words). "Vittles" is crude, country-type spelling. In print, "victuals" would be used - you'd never see the spelling "vittles" in, say, a newspaper. In conversation you might hear "vittles" in rural areas of the US. In urban areas of the US you'd only hear "vittles" if the speaker is trying for a humorous e

PonyFanCould you tell me whether you use "to chow" in the meaning of "to eat" and "vittles" in the meaning of "food and drink" in your daily conversation? Thanks in advance!

No. Never. No one I know uses those words either.

CJ