Clipping of chemist's shop, in the British use of chemist as a synonym for pharmacist.

chemist's (plural chemists')

1. (British, Australia, New Zealand) Synonym of pharmacy, especially when run as a small standalone shop.
   • 2005 September 12, Damian Whitworth, “Urban worrier”, in The Times‎^[1], London: News UK, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 January 2026:

     NHS doctors will only be giving the drug out to people with symptoms and don’t want individuals to try stockpiling the drug themselves. But Tamiflu is available at chemists’ if you can get a private prescription.

• schemist, Mitsches, smitches