chads

Noun

chad (countable and uncountable, plural chad or chads)

1. (uncountable) Small pieces of paper punched out from the edges of continuous stationery, or from ballot papers, paper tape, punched cards, etc.
   • The keypunch wasn't named after a Mr. Chadless; it was so named because, as expected, it punched tape while producing little or no chad.2011 June 1, David P. Mikkelson, “Chad: Does the word ‘chad’ come from the Chadless keypunch, invented by a Mr. Chadless?”, in Snopes.com, retrieved 07 Sep 2016
2. (countable) One of these pieces of paper.
   • Prior devices of the type according to the present invention have been arranged to cut out the perforations completely at a single movement, thereby producing chads or waste material which often present difficult problems of disposal.1939 May 20, Ross A. Lake, Printing Perforating Telegraph Apparatus, US Patent 2255794

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