Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A traditional washer of clothes and linens in South Asia.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A laundryman in India and Pakistan; a washerman.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Hindi dhobī, washerman, from dhob, a wash, washing, from Middle Indic dhovvaï, is washed, from earlier *dhauvati, he washes, alteration (influenced by Sanskrit dhauta-, washed) of Sanskrit dhāvati, he washes.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Hindi धोबी (dhōbī, "washerman")

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Examples

Comments

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  • an Indian washerwoman

    August 16, 2008

  • No, dhobi or dobi is Hindi for laundry. the dobi walla or wallah is the person (often male) who does the laundry

    August 16, 2008

  • I've seen this one in WWF, as well! Thanks for adding!

    August 20, 2011