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. Hindī chīnt; also formerly found as chite, F. chite, Pg. chita, a. Mahrātī chīt 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. after 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 colors, generally not less than five, and usually glazed.
† α. 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. They bring back … japan wares, calicoes, chintz, muslins, silks.
β. 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. (1758), I. 112. Compared with these, the most admired Chintses would lose their Reputation.
1755. Johnson, Chints, cloath of 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 … could 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 nightgown.
1768. in Gentl. Mag., XXXVIII. 395. Two ladies were convicted before the Lord Mayor in the penalty of £5 for wearing Chintz Gowns.
1849. Lytton, Caxtons, 13. The chintz chairs in the best drawing-room were uncovered.
