Obs. exc. dial. Also 4 chitte, 5 chytte, 6 chyt, 6–8 chitt. [This and its verb of identical form appear about 1600: nothing is known of their history, but it is conjectured that the sb. may be a somehow changed descendant of ME. CHITHE, OE. cíð in same sense. But the shortening of the long vowel in such a position, and the change of ð to t, are in the present state of our knowledge inexplicable.] A shoot, sprout.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XIII. iv. The stone or kernell of the Date … hath a round specke … whereat the root or chit beginneth first to put forth.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Malt, The Barley … will … begin to shew the Chit or Sprit at the Root-end of the Corn.
1886. W. Linc. Gloss., Chit, the first sprout of seeds or potatoes. ‘I have set him to rub off the chits.’
