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

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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

See Examples For:

chintz

“It’s a mix of traditional decor, like prints, chintz, real wood furniture and classical design elements with more modern,” she wrote.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 18, 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

How much does she charge for a 10m roll of chintz wallpaper inspired by an 18th century sarong?

From BBC ● Dec. 25, 2021

Under her eye, leather couches shine as if recently polished, and the patterns on rugs, chintz drapes, brocade couches and bedspreads all seem to glow.

From New York Times ● May 5, 2021

The fact that the yellow chintz armchair in the living room clashed with the blue-and-maroon Turkish carpet no longer bothered her.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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