Chintzing ?

[pugwash]

Extract from the journal of Charles Wilkes who led the US Expedition to the Antarctic, made on 1 Jan 1840 :"The crew had been engaged in building hurricane-houses, calking and chintzing, to secure them from the wet and cold..." I don't suppose he meant hanging up Laura Ashley curtains. My 1860 Seaman's Word Book doesn't have it. Any ideas?

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[Talbot]

From a quick google there seems to be a couple of interpretations from across the pond <blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

For a more relaxed country look, clients head to the decorating establishment and fabric house Colefax and Fowler. Since 1934, Colefax has been chintzing up interiors and dispensing antiques with its "humble elegance" for the likes of the late Lady Diana Cooper and the fashion designer Valentino.

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would seem to imply a House Doctor type activity, whereas
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and, it would appear, an ungrateful protege as he's chintzing her on the fee split and accepting gigs from a rival

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would imply a form of cheating

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[phanakapan]

also on Google was a reference to chintzing metal seams- but I couldn't work out how. Also, could it mean applying a waterproof layer- after all chintz material has a glazed finish?

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[Twister_Ken]

Typo

If the word were chinking it would make sense. To chink a log cabin is to fill gaps with mud or mortar, as in "Chinking the joints"

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