Chit Travelled From India in a Soldier's Pocket
A chit is a short note or voucher. British soldiers brought the word home from India.
A chit is a short written note, voucher or receipt. The word comes from Hindi *chitthi*, a letter or note, and entered English through British India in the 1700s. It stayed in military and colonial use — a chit was a slip authorising rations, leave or drinks — and survives in offices and messes where a signed slip replaces cash. A separate *chit* means a young girl, usually dismissively, and is unrelated Middle English.
- A short note. *Sign the chit.*
- A voucher. *A bar chit.*
- A young girl (dated). *A chit of a girl.*
- Chitthi — the Hindi source. *Chitthi.*
- From the 1700s. *Through British India.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | chit | A chit. |
| Plural | chits | Chits. |
| Hindi | chitthi | A note. |
| Sanskrit | chitra | A mark. |
| Related | voucher | A voucher. |
- He signed a chit for the drinks.Voucher.
- Leave a chit with the clerk.Note.
- The word is Hindi.Etymology.
Words English took from India
- Chit — from *chitthi*, a note
- Bungalow — from *bangla*, a Bengali-style house
- Shampoo — from *champo*, to press or massage
- Loot — from *lut*, plunder
- Pyjamas — from *pai jama*, leg garment
Hindi *chitthi*, a note or letter, from Sanskrit *chitra*, a mark. The sense of a young girl is separate Middle English.
Where does chit come from?
Hindi chitthi, meaning a note or letter, brought into English through British India in the 1700s.
Is a chit of a girl the same word?
No. That is a separate Middle English word meaning a small creature or young person.