Green’s Dictionary of Slang

artichoke n.1

[like the vegetable, such a woman is supposedly spiky on the outside but still tasty within]

1. a debauched old woman.

[UK]J. Day Blind Beggar of Bednall-Green Act III: Hold, let him alone you cross legg’d-hartichoak.
[UK]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.
[US]Trumble Sl. Dict. (1890) 7: Artichoke. A low and old prostitute.
[UK]Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
[Aus]Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 4: Artichoke, a worn-out, debauched old woman.

2. the vagina.

[US]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.