A person, typically in South Asia, whose profession is washing clothes for others, often by hand near rivers or water sources.
From Hindi dhobi, derived from Sanskrit dhavanam (washing). This occupational term entered English during colonial India and reflects a traditional caste-based profession in Indian society.
Dhobis were essential to colonial India and are still important today—they developed ingenious techniques for removing stains without damaging fabrics, some of which modern laundries still can't replicate.
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