It really is going to be a chintzy post.
Here's the question: Do you know what chintzy means? And is it a Yorkism? (Again, take Yorkism to mean something that is said a lot here and not necessarily said commonly elsewhere, but which isn't JUST from around here.)
Cheap--poor quality, not necessarly low in price, but often will be. An item best left in a store! Not really a Yorkism, though.
Well, let's walk this back a bit. Chintzy is "tastelessy show; cheap; gaudy; or tacky"
The root word (?) -- "chintz" -- is defined on Wikipedia as "is calico cloth printed with flowers and other devices in different colours. The word Calico is derived from the name of the Indian city Calicut (Kozhikkode in native Malayalam) to which it had a manufacturing association. ... Modern chintz usually consists of bright overall floral patterns printed on a light background."
It goes on to say that: "In contemporary language the word "chintz" and "chintzy" can be used to refer to clothing or furnishings which are vulgar or showy in appearance."
Hmmmm.
Okay there hubby guy, check this out. Chintz, the fabric, was popular in early days when clothing was homemade because the fabric was readily available and affordable. It was used to make dresses, blouses, nightwear, childrens' wear and aprons; table cloths and other household items. Quilters, long ago and today, have always included chintz fabric in creating certain designs. Chintz fabric was never considered gaudy or vulgar except, perhaps, by the upper crust who could afford silks and other finer materials imported from Europe and the Middle East. Chintzy may be the bastardization of the word chintz, but only because it has been looked down on by several generations who could afford a higher class of goods. I would never refer to the fabric chintz as chintzy because it still today serves a purpose for quilters and other crafters and in some cultures it no doubt has many uses in the manufacture of clothing and other items.
Now feed bags. That's another whole discussion!
OK; here is my 2 Euro Cents worth for Chintz. In German Chintz is der Chintz, and refers to the fabric. Chintzy, on the other hand is translated as the following - billig (cheap), geizig (mizerly), geschmaklos or kitschig (gaudy). This last translation opens up another word used mainly in our area - Kitschy. Definitely from the German language and meaning gaudy (like some folks Christmas light displays are kitschy). Thus concludes the German-English-Yorkism lesson for the day.
Bis später,
mit freudlichen Grüßen
von Österreich,
Mark