chit

A "chit" is typically a small written note or slip of paper used as a voucher, a receipt, an order ticket, or a brief message. In places like clubs, offices, and especially the military, a chit can also be a written request or authorization (for example, a leave chit or a duty chit). Think of it as a tiny, official-enough record: a quick memo, a permission slip, or a small "I.O.U."-style acknowledgment. While the word resembles the start of "chit-chat," a chit is much more about tracking minor business than about casual conversation.

The word "chit" is short, but it has a surprisingly global history. Its most common modern meaning is a small slip of paper used as a record: a receipt, a voucher, an order ticket, or a brief written message. This sense traces back to the Hindi word ciṭṭhī, meaning a letter or document, and entered English during the British colonial era in India. If you are at a club and sign a paper to pay for your meal later, you are signing a chit. The idea is something brief and practical—official enough to be recorded, but not as weighty as a formal contract.

In some varieties of English (and in older writing), "chit" has a second meaning: a young person—often a girl—who is seen as cheeky or "pert." Used this way, it can sound dismissive, though it may also be teasing or playful, depending on tone and context.

It is important to distinguish "chit" from "chit-chat." While "chit-chat" refers to light, informal conversation, it is a separate linguistic development (a reduplication of "chat"). So if you overhear "chits" being exchanged, you are not hearing gossip; you are likely watching people pass around small written records. Whether it is a voucher for a drink, a leave request, or a slightly old-fashioned label for a spirited young person, "chit" usually points to something small and specific that quietly keeps social and practical life moving.