chintz
/tʃɪnts/
noun
Origin
Hindi
chīnt — spotted cloth
Overview
Meaning Now
- A printed, multicolored cotton fabric, often with a glazed finish, traditionally imported from India.
Literal older meaning
spotted
Language path
Sanskrit → Hindi → English
Earliest form
chints
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
Chintz was originally a hand-painted or woodblock-printed fabric produced in India. Its popularity in 17th-century Europe was so high that it threatened domestic wool and silk industries, leading to protective legislation and import bans in Britain and France during the 18th century.
Evolution
- Sanskrit
citra-
“speckled, variegated”
- Hindi
chīnt
“spotted cotton cloth”
Base for the plural 'chintz' in English
- Early Modern English
chints
“imported Indian cotton”
Initially interpreted as a plural form
- Modern English
chintz
“glazed floral printed cotton”
Connections
Related across languages
Sanskrit
citra
bright, clear, variegated
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Related to chintz
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.