chithi (English)

Where does "chithi" come from?

The English word 'chithi' is a direct borrowing from the Tamil 'சித்தி'[1]. This term, which describes a 'father's second wife', 'maternal younger aunt', or 'paternal younger uncle's wife', evolved historically from the earlier Tamil form 'சிற்றி'[1][2]. The root of this lineage lies in the compound 'சிற்றாய்', a combination of the word 'சிற்று' meaning 'small' or 'minor' and the word 'ஆय' meaning 'mother'[2]. This base word 'ஆय' traces back further to the reconstructed Proto-Dravidian form '*āy'[3].

Open questions

• The form *āy is a reconstructed Proto-Dravidian root rather than an attested historical word. [3]

Full etymology tree

• chithi (English), 'Alternative form of chitthi.'
  • borrowed சித்தி (citti) (Tamil), 'aunt (mother's younger sister or father's younger brother's wife)'
    • inherited சிற்றாய் (ciṟṟāy) (Tamil)
      • compound சிற்று (ciṟṟu) (Tamil), 'combining form of சிறு (ciṟu, “small”).'
      • compound ஆய் (āy) (Tamil), 'mother'
        • inherited *āy (Proto-Dravidian), 'mother'

Ancestors

• சித்தி (Tamil)

Sources

1. chithi (English) - Wiktionary
2. சித்தி (citti) (Tamil) - Wiktionary
3. ஆய் (āy) (Tamil) - Wiktionary

Updated August 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris