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chai1

[she]
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noun, plural chais [she] /ʃɛ/. French.
  1. a shed or other aboveground building where a winemaker stores wine in casks.
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chai2

[chahy]
noun
  1. a drink of tea made with cardamom and various other spices, milk, and a sweetener.
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Origin of chai2

1970-75; < Turkish çay and Russian, Persian, Hindi, Urdu chay “tea,” ultimately from Chinese chá tea
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for chais

Historical Examples

  • The Indians began to return about sunset well mounted and some with horses and chais.

    Journal of an American Prisoner at Fort Malden and Quebec in the War of 1812

    James Reynolds

British Dictionary definitions for chais

chai

noun
  1. tea, esp as made in India with added spices
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Word Origin

C20: Indian
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for chais

chai

n.

"tea," 1919, from the Russian or Arabic word for "tea" (see tea, and cf. cha). Now used especially of spiced teas.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper