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Where does the word "chintz" come from? It comes from Sanskrit chitra, passing through Hindi before entering English (1600s).
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Where does the word "chintz" come from? It comes from Sanskrit chitra, passing through Hindi before entering English (1600s).
Chintz’s story begins in Sanskrit: chitra meant “bright, variegated.” Meaning "bright" or "spotted". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as chint. A spattered or spotted printed cotton cloth. It reached English by 1600s as chintz. From Hindi 'chint', spotted; imports became so popular that England banned printed Indian calicoes in 1720. Today, chintz means a printed, often glazed cotton fabric used for curtains and upholstery.
- Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient chitra "bright, variegated", meaning "bright" or "spotted".
- Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval chint "spattered cotton cloth", a spattered or spotted printed cotton cloth.
- Stage 3 · English · 1600s chintz "a glazed, printed cotton fabric", from Hindi 'chint', spotted; imports became so popular that England banned printed Indian calicoes in 1720.