chitting

Verb

chit (third-person singular simple present chits, present participle chitting, simple past and past participle chitted)

1. (UK, dialectal, intransitive) To sprout; to shoot, as a seed or plant.
   • I have known it chit in seven hours after it had been thrown forth of the Cistern and within three days come enough; the Maltster being forced to stir it six, seven or eight times a day,1721, John Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry: Or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land, page 217
2. (UK, dialectal, transitive) To damage the outer layers of a seed such as Lupinus or Sophora to assist germination.
3. (UK, dialectal, transitive) To initiate sprouting of tubers, such as potatoes, by placing them in special environment, before planting into the soil.
   • Gardeners argue among themselves about how necessary chitting is, but I stick with tradition and do chit my seed potatoes.2010, Geoff Stebbings, Growing Your Own Fruit and Veg For Dummies, page 173

See all 17 meanings of chit