Chino
/ˈtʃiːnoʊ/noun
A sturdy twilled cotton fabric, or a style of clothing made from it.
Did you know?English got chino through Spanish, where it originally meant “Chinese,” because the cloth was associated with China or Chinese-style production in early trade networks.
Etymological Timeline
Chinese origin
Chinese
qín
“A Chinese ethnonym in the broader historical trade context, later filtered through Spanish usage”
16th-17th Century
Spanish
chino
“Chinese; of Chinese origin or style”
19th Century
English
chino
“A cotton twill fabric, especially for trousers and uniforms”
Modern English
English
chinos
“Trousers made of chino fabric”