Chintzy
/ˈtʃɪntsi/noun
Cheap, gaudy, or miserly in quality or appearance.
Did you know?The word comes from the name of Indian chintz fabric, which entered English through trade routes, then shifted from a prized textile to a sneer about tacky excess and stinginess.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
English
chintz
“A printed cotton fabric imported from India”
17th Century
Portuguese
chita
“Printed cotton cloth”
17th Century
Hindi
chīnt
“Spotted, variegated, or sprinkled”
18th Century
English
chintzy
“Having the look or quality of chintz; later, cheap or stingy in appearance or character”
Modern English
English
chintzy
“Cheap, gaudy, or miserly”