Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a debauched (old) woman.

1600		J. Day Blind Beggar of Bednall-Green Act III: Hold, let him alone you cross legg’d-hartichoak.
1657		H. Crompton Poems 30: A woman is a Hartichoak; / Whose leaves are only good: / Her pleasant outside doth provoak / Our veins and vernall bloud; / But if you touch her to the core, / It’s ten to one you finde a wh—re.
1849		Paul Pry 8 Jan. 8/1: Paul Pry’s Curiosities [...] The Hugh Artichoke of the Bradley species is not in the flourishing state of former seasons, having suffered much from the loss of its Sweeps.
1881		Trumble Sl. Dict. (1890) 7: Artichoke. A low and old prostitute.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1895		Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 4: Artichoke, a worn-out, debauched old woman.

2. the vagina.

1999

D. Lypchuk ‘A dirty little story’ in eye mag. 8 July 🌐 After he cleaned up the kitchen, he admired her crumpet and had some sugar bowl pie. Then he stuck his bald-headed hermit into her artichoke again.

3. see hearty choke (with caper sauce) n.