chintz

chintz tSints. Forms: pl. 7-8 chints, 7 chites; sing. 7 chint, (? 7) 8-9 chints, 8 chince, chinse , 8- chintz. Originally chints, plural of chint, a. Hindi chint; also formerly found as chite, Fr. chite, Pg. chita, a. Mahrati chit in same sense ; both:-Skr. chitra variegated. The plural of this word, being more frequent in commercial use, came in course of time to be mistaken for a singular, and this to be written chince, chinse, and at length chintz (app. aft er words like Coblentz, quartz). This error was not established before the third quarter of the 18th c., although editors and press-readers have intruded it into re-editions of earlier works. Cf. the similar baize for bays.

1. orig. A name for the painted or stained calicoes imported from India; now, a name for cotton cloths fast-printed with designs of flowers, etc., in a number of colours, generally not less than five, and usually g lazed.

a. sing. chint, pl. chints (-z).

1614 W. Peyton Voy. in Purchas Pilgrims iv. xv. (1625) I. 530 Callicoes white and coloured..Pintados, Chints and Chadors.
1663 Pepys Diary 5 Sept., Bought my wife a chint [so app. MS.; ed. chintz], that is, a painted Indian callico, for to line her new study.
1678 J. Phillips Tavernier's Trav. ii. i. iv. 33 There is also a great Trade for all sorts of painted Calicuts, which are called Chites.
1697 Dampier Voy. II. 134 Silks, Chints, Muzlins, Callicoes.
1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P; (Index), Chint, a sort of Callico painted.
1725 De Foe Voy. round World 22 A quantity of..wrought silks, muslins and Chints [mod. edd. chintz].
1777 Robertson Hist. Amer. viii. (1783) III. 350 Japan wares , calicoes, chintz, muslins, silks.

b. sing. chints (chinse), chintz, pl. chintzes.

1719 D'Urfey Pills I. 163 In Callicoe, or lowly Chinse.
1732 Pope Ep. Cobham 248 Let a charming Chintz [ed. 2 chints] and Brussels lace Wrap my cold limbs.
1746-7 Hervey Medit., In Flower Garden, The most admired chintses.
1755 Johnson, Chints, cloath o f cotton made in India.
1796 Morse Amer. Geog. II. 553 A vast trade in chintzes.
1832 Webster, Chints (sing.).
A. 1845 Hood To Tom Woodgate xviii, The maids in morning chintz.
1880 Birdwood Ind. Arts II. 91 Masulipatam chintzes.

2. attrib. Of chintz; covered, etc., with chintz.

1712 Arbuthnot & Swift John Bull Postscr. x, How he..cou ld not sleep but in a Chints bed.
1722 Lond. Gaz. No. 6068/8 One Chince Gown.
1756 Mrs. Calderwood in Scotsman 13 Dec. (1884) 9/6 A very pretty chince night-gown.
1768 in Gentl. Mag. XXXVIII. 395 Two ladies were convicted before the Lord Mayor in the penalty of L5 for wearing Chintz Gowns.
1849 Lytton Caxtons 13 The chintz chairs in the best drawing-room were uncovered.