dhurrie

Where does the word "dhurrie" come from? It comes from Sanskrit dalita, passing through Hindi before entering English (1875).

Dhurrie’s story begins in Sanskrit: dalita meant “split, divided (as cane or mat).” Meant 'split, divided', from a root meaning 'to split'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as dari. Became the name of a flat-woven cotton rug. It reached English by 1875 as dhurrie. British traders adopted the word for the handwoven Indian rug. Today, dhurrie means a thick, flat-woven cotton rug traditionally made in India.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient dalita "split, divided (as cane or mat)", meant 'split, divided', from a root meaning 'to split'.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval dari "a flat-woven cotton rug", became the name of a flat-woven cotton rug.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1875 dhurrie "a thick, flat-woven cotton rug from India", British traders adopted the word for the handwoven Indian rug.