Originally an English term to denote wines which came from Hockheim, Germany Today the term describes the unusually tall bottle which is used for Riesling and similar wines Also, hock refers to Riesling and similar wines themselves
If you are in hock to someone, you feel you have to do things for them because they have given you money or support. It is almost impossible for the prime minister to stand above the factions. He always seems in hock to one or another. Rhine wine. to sell something temporarily because you need some money = pawn