Anglo-Ind. [Said to be from Hindī chhī-chhī fie! (lit. dirt, filth), an exclamation attributed to the Eurasians; ‘but perhaps rather indicating the mincing pronunciation attributed to the class’ (Yule).]
A word applied disparagingly to the ‘minced English’ of Eurasians or half-breeds in India, and so to the class themselves.
1781. Hicky’s Bengal Gaz., 17 March (Y.). Pretty little looking-glasses, Good and cheap for chee-chee misses.
1816. ‘Quiz,’ Grand Master, V. 118, note. Chee chee is the general designation the half-cast ladies receive in India.
1873. Fraser’s Mag., Oct., 437/2 (Y.). The hybrid minced English (known as chee-chee).
1880. G. Aberigh-Mackay, Tour Sir Ali Baba, 122 (Y.). What though upon her lips there hung the accents of her tchi-tchi tongue.
