Chitties

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A colloquial term often used to refer to small children or pets in a playful manner
2. A playful designation for informal or endearing terms of affection toward loved ones or small animals
3. A casual expression that conveys a sense of fondness or endearment, typically used in lighthearted contexts

Etymology: "Chitties" is the plural of "chitty," a noun meaning a playful small name, the sort of pet name a parent or friend uses for a child or loved one. The word has two English routes that have merged in its current use. One runs through "chit," which in English meant a young sprout or a young animal or whelp, with the suffix "-y" added to form the affectionate diminutive. The other route is far more surprising. "Chitty" is also borrowed from Hindi, where "ciṭṭhī" means "letter, note, or written message." English took the word in that sense, and it shares an origin with "cure," making the two words doublets that split off from the same source. Whether the diminutive sense owes anything to this Hindi word is not something the record confirms, so the two strands are best seen as separate paths that happen to share a form.