1680s, "disposition of light and dark in a picture," literally "bright-dark," from Italian chiaro "clear, bright" (from Latin clarus; see clear (adj.)) + oscuro (from Latin obscurus; see obscure (adj.)). Related: Chiaroscurist.
chez
chi
Chian
Chiang Mai
Chianti
chiaroscuro
chiasm
chiasma
chiasmus
chiastic
chic