/ ˈʃænti; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
a small house, built of pieces of wood, metal and cardboard, where very poor people live, especially on the edge of a big city
2.
(also ˈsea shanty ) (both BrE ) ( NAmE chanty , chantey ) a song that sailors traditionally used to sing while pulling ropes, etc.
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WORD ORIGIN
sense 1 early 19th cent. (originally a North American usage): perhaps from Canadian French chantier lumberjack's cabin, logging camp.
sense 2 mid 19th cent.: probably from French chantez! sing!, imperative plural of chanter .