dhobi

/ (ˈdəʊbɪ) /

(in India, Malaya, East Africa, etc, esp formerly) a washerman

Word Origin for dhobi

C19: from Hindi, from dhōb washing; related to Sanskrit dhāvaka washerman

dhb, dhea, dheas, dhegiha, dhikr, dhobi, dhobi itch, dhodhekánisos, dhole, dholl, dhooly

The profession of washerman, or dhobi as he is called, like most other occupations in India, is chiefly an hereditary one.

India and the Indians |Edward F. Elwin
These love not the dhobi, and dwell by preference far from the madding crowd.

Birds of the Indian Hills |Douglas Dewar
In these circumstances a Dhobi with good connections is what you require.

The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India |R. V. Russell
Before washing his clothes the Dhobi steams them,2 hanging them in a bundle for a time over a cauldron of boiling water.

The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India |R. V. Russell

How the dhobi does his work; beating the clothes on a stone.

India and the Indians |Edward F. Elwin