Obs. Forms: 6–7 quitasole, 7 quita-, quitta-, quittusol; kittasole, kittisal, kitesoll, (kippe-sole, kettysol), kitsol(l, 8 kitysol, 8–9 kittisol, (9 ketty-, kettisol). [a. Pg. and Sp. quitasol, f. quitar to take away, ward off + sol sun.] A sunshade, parasol, umbrella: almost always in reference to the East Indies or China; spec. a Chinese umbrella made of bamboo and oiled paper.
‘This word survived till lately in the Indian Tariff, but it is otherwise long obsolete’ (Yule).
1588. R. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China (Hakluyt Soc.), II. 105. Two quitasoles of silke, and a horse.
1611. Hawkins, in Purchas, Pilgrims (1625), I. 217. Of Kittasoles of state, for to shaddow him, there bee twentie [in the treasury of Akbar].
1615. R. Cocks, Diary (Hakluyt Soc.), I. 28. The China Capt. … brought me a present from his brother, viz., 1 faire kitesoll.
1625. Purchas, Pilgrims, I. iv. 559. Many Canopies, Quittusols and other strange ensignes of Maiesty.
1662. Bp. Nicholson, David’s Harp The Lord is thy shade—umbraculum—a quittasol upon thy right hand.
1687. Let. Crt. Directors, in J. T. Wheeler, Madras in Olden Time (1861), I. 200 (Y.). They [Aldermen of Madras] may be allowed to have Kettysols over them.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 110. A great Attendance with Pageants, Mirxhals, and Kitsols.
1706. [E. Ward], Wooden World Dissected (1708), 19. [He] believes a Kittisol a nobler Piece of Magnificence, than a good Table.
1813. W. Milburn, Orient. Commerce, II. 464 (Y.). Kittisols, large, 2,000 to 3,000.
1875. Indian Tariff (Y.). Umbrellas, Chinese, of paper, Kettysolls. Ibid. Chinese paper Kettisols … duty 5 per cent.
