Dhobis

/ˈdoʊbiz/ noun

Definition

Plural of dhobi; people, typically male, whose occupation is washing and laundering clothes for others in South Asia.

Etymology

From Hindi dhobi + English plural -s. See dhobi for full etymology.

Kelly Says

Dhobis have a fascinating guild structure in Indian cities, with specific areas assigned to different families who've been doing this work for generations. Their distinctive washing technique—beating clothes on stones—can be heard echoing through river valleys.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.