What does chit mean?
A chit is most commonly a short written slip serving as a note, memo, or voucher—especially one that records a debt or authorizes a purchase to be settled later. In army messes, officers' clubs, and other institutions, members traditionally signed chits instead of paying cash, with the total billed at month's end. The word carries a faintly old-fashioned, bureaucratic flavor today, though the practice persists in places where credit runs on trust. In British English, chit can also describe a self-assertive or cheeky child, usually with mild exasperation or affection rather than real disapproval. Gardeners use the noun differently again: a chit is the small sprout that forms on a seed potato before planting, and letting potatoes 'chit' is a standard step in growing them. Despite these varied senses, the core image is consistent—something small, quick, and informal.
A short note, memo, or voucher recording a debt, order, or authorization, especially one used in place of immediate payment.
"He ordered another round and told the barman to put it on his chit."
British informal: a cheeky, self-assertive, or impudent child.
"The little chit had scribbled on every wall in the corridor."
A small shoot or sprout on a plant, especially a seed potato prepared for planting.
"Set the potatoes out in a cool, light place until sturdy green chits appear."
Standard plural; commonly used when referring to multiple vouchers or slips, as in club or military accounting.
"At the end of the month, the mess treasurer collected all the outstanding chits."
In colonial-era clubs and messes, members could live for weeks on nothing but chits—little signed slips that said 'put it on my tab.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chit
The word chit first appears in English in the seventeenth century, originally referring to a small shoot or sprout before extending to short notes and slips of paper. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, though it may relate to dialect words for a small twig or sprig. The sense of an impudent child developed in the eighteenth century, and the related compound chit-chat, meaning light casual conversation, is recorded from around the same period.
Related word forms
How chit is actually used
The 'voucher' sense is common in British military, club, and institutional settings, where goods or services are obtained on credit against a signed slip. The 'impudent child' sense is chiefly British and somewhat dated or literary. The horticultural 'sprout' sense is largely confined to gardening contexts, particularly potatoes.
Easily confused with chit
A chick is a baby bird, while a chit is a written note or voucher (or, informally, a cheeky child).