Choker
chok·er | ˈchō-kər
noun
A short necklace, generally less than 14
A choker is a type of very short necklace, typically less than 14 inches long for an adult woman, that is worn tightly around the wearer’s neck. It has little or no dangle from the neck, thus giving the necklace its name. The first choker dates back to the 1500s and Anne Boelyn, the second wife of England’s infamous King Henry VIII. Anne wore a choker of pearls that contained a letter “B” pendant dangling from it. Chokers were also worn in the late 1700s during the French Revolution. During this era, women would tightly wear red ribbons around their necks in remembrance of those who had been executed via the guillotine. In the 20th century, chokers were popular during the Roaring Twenties, the 1940s, and the 1990s. Now in the 21st century, chokers are in style again. Today, many women choose chokers with heavy chains, jewels, pearls, and stripes.