chee-chee
Preserved but no longer current.
This word is used in a rather offensive manner to denote Eurasians, or children by an English father and native mother. It takes its origin in a very common expression of half-caste females, "CHEE-CHEE," equivalent to our Oh, fie!—Nonsense!—For shame!—Anglo-Indian.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “chee-chee” mean?
This word is used in a rather offensive manner to denote Eurasians, or children by an English father and native mother. It takes its origin in a very common expression of half-caste females, "CHEE-CHEE," equivalent to our Oh, fie!—Nonsense!—For shame!—Anglo-Indian.
Is “chee-chee” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.