dhoti

Where does the word "dhoti" come from? It comes from Hindi dhoti, and was adopted directly into English (1620s).

Dhoti’s story begins in Hindi: dhoti meant “a loincloth or wrapped lower garment.” The everyday word for the wrapped lower garment. It reached English by 1620s as dhoti. British travelers in India adopted the word for the traditional garment. Today, dhoti means a traditional garment worn by men in South Asia, consisting of a long piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and legs.

1. Stage 1 · Hindi · medieval dhoti "a loincloth or wrapped lower garment", the everyday word for the wrapped lower garment.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1620s dhoti "cloth wrapped around the waist and legs, worn by men in South Asia", British travelers in India adopted the word for the traditional garment.