chit
UK[tʃɪt]US[tʃɪt]
n
A short official note, typically recording a sum of money owed, such as a receipt or an IOU.
n
A young or small person, especially a child (now chiefly archaic or informal).
Etymology
The word 'chit' originates from the Hindi word 'ciṭṭhī', meaning a note, letter, or pass. This Hindi term itself derives from the Sanskrit 'ciṭṭa' or 'citra', which could denote something variegated, bright, or distinct, and by extension, a mark or a written document. British colonial officials in India adopted the term in the 17th century to refer to a short note or voucher, a meaning which remains primary in modern English. The informal, often dismissive, use of 'chit' to mean a small child or young person (as in "a chit of a girl") developed later, likely influenced by the sense of something small or insignificant, paralleling the note's brevity.
Analysis
This word is a simplex loanword. Its core form entered English as a single, unanalyzable unit from an Anglo-Indian context.
Examples
He signed a chit for the drinks at the club bar.
Keep the delivery chit as proof of purchase.
She was just a chit of a girl when she first performed on stage.