Chintz
Topic: India, That Is Bharat: Names of India and Unity in Diversity · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 8 "Unity in Diversity, or 'Many in the One'"
Meaning
Chintz was a printed, brightly coloured cotton cloth made in India. The word comes from the Hindi chhint, which means a spotted or printed cloth. For centuries India made the finest cotton in the world and sent its textiles as far as Europe. In 17th-century Europe chintz became so popular that people bought less of the cloth made in their own countries. Chintz shows how famous Indian textiles were around the world.
Example
In the 17th century, chintz became the fashion for clothes and furnishings in England and France. Local weavers were losing business, so both countries banned the import of chintz to protect their own products. In England these bans included the Calico Acts of the early 18th century.
Don't confuse with
- Muslin: a very fine, light and usually plain cotton cloth, famous from Bengal. Chintz is known for its printed and painted designs.
- Calico: plain cotton cloth, named after Calicut. Chintz is the printed and coloured kind.