talking informally with someone, usually about light or casual topics.
From Middle English 'chaten,' possibly from Old English 'cheat' meaning to talk. Some sources suggest it's imitative (onomatopoeia) of the sound of quick talking. The word became common in the 1600s.
Nobody knows for sure where 'chat' comes from—it might be onomatopoeia (imitating the sound of quick talking), or it evolved from an old word meaning 'cheat,' since con artists were known for smooth talking!
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