chintz

American  

[chints] / tʃɪnts /

noun

1. a printed cotton fabric, glazed or unglazed, used especially for draperies.

2. a painted or stained calico from India.

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chintz British  

/ tʃɪnts /

noun

1. a printed, patterned cotton fabric, with glazed finish

2. a painted or stained Indian calico

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Etymology

Origin of chintz

1605–15; earlier chints, plural of chint < Gujarati chī̃ṭ

Explanation

Chintz is a simple cotton material that's often used to make curtains or throw pillows. It's common for chintz to be printed with big, colorful flowers. Frequently used in upholstery and other home decor, chintz is a lightly glazed, many-colored fabric. Traditionally, chintz was made from calico, a type of printed cotton, and featured a light background with bright floral patterns. This style of decorating is now known generally as chintz, whether it's dishes or wallpaper that feature bright flowers. The derogatory adjective chintzy, or "cheap," comes from the perceived low quality of chintz. The word has a Sanskrit root meaning "bright."

Example Sentences

From rich woven silks, patterned brocades and intricate chintz to a range of less talked-about textiles, India's contribution to the global textile industry is unique.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2025

She followed the English country house tradition of slipcovering her upholstered furniture every summer — in cream and blue chintz in wide stripes, or in roses printed on pale linen.

From New York Times • Mar. 31, 2023

Released the same year as Ritchie Valens’ version of “La Bamba,” this chintz speaks to a U.S. that once was fine with bilingualism in its chart-toppers.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2022

For Harris, chintz, which originated in India as a hand-painted fabric and became popular in England during the Victorian era when it became mass-produced, represents the “anti-trend.”

From Seattle Times • Oct. 4, 2022

I can see through these houses, to what they used to be; I can see the colors that used to cover the walls, dusty rose, muddy green, mushroom, and the chintz curtains no longer there.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood