[Lammy]

Google co-opted an already common term into a Proper Noun™.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/Chrome

http://www.catb.org/%7Eesr/jargon/html/C/chrome.html

Netscape called it that and thus so does Mozilla. Try loading up `chrome://branding/content/about-logo.png` for an example of the chrome URI scheme in Firefox!

[Findecanor]

Around the turn of the century, the "Mozilla" browser used to support themes for its chrome, written in XUL [0], which also supported inline images. The themes were available in a repository called "Chrome Zone".

Google later appropriated also the name "Chrome Zone", for a chain of retail stores in the UK. [1]

[0]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XUL

[1]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_Zone

[asddubs]

Specifically google originally chose that name for chrome because one of their goals was reduction of chrome. They made a bit deal out of it when the browser was new, how it didn't have a bunch of menu bars or whatever

[Lammy]

The Scott McCloud comic mentions this on page #24: https://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/big_24.html