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Where does the word "dhobi" come from? It comes from Hindi dhonā, passing through Hindi before entering English (1810s).
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Where does the word "dhobi" come from? It comes from Hindi dhonā, passing through Hindi before entering English (1810s).
Dhobi’s story begins in Hindi: dhonā meant “to wash.” To wash. Within Hindi, it grew into dhobī by medieval. A washerman; Mumbai's Dhobi Ghat is a vast open-air laundry. It reached English by 1810s as dhobi. Borrowed in Anglo-Indian households. Today, dhobi means a washerman or washerwoman in South Asia.
- Stage 1 · Hindi · medieval dhonā "to wash", to wash.
- Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval dhobī "washerman", a washerman; Mumbai's Dhobi Ghat is a vast open-air laundry.
- Stage 3 · English · 1810s dhobi "washerman", borrowed in Anglo-Indian households.