chad

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a small piece of paper that is supposed to be removed when a hole is punched in a card or paper tape
  2. noun a lake in north central Africa; fed by the Shari river
  3. noun a landlocked desert republic in north-central Africa; was under French control until 1960

Etymology

Uncertain; possibly from the English slang term chat (“louse”). The word predates the chadless punch, which therefore cannot be its origin, and a derivation from Scots chad (“river gravel”) stated in some dictionaries is now thought to be nothing more than guesswork.

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