dhoti
UK[ˈdəʊti]US[ˈdoʊti]
n
A long piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and between the legs, worn by some men in India.
Etymology
The word 'dhoti' entered English in the early 19th century as a direct borrowing from Hindi 'dhōtī'. The Hindi term itself is derived from the Sanskrit root 'dhauta', meaning 'washed' or 'clean', which is the past participle of 'dhāvati' ('he washes'). This etymological link reflects the garment's traditional association with cleanliness and ritual purity. The term's journey into English vocabulary is a clear example of lexical borrowing through colonial and cultural contact, where the name for a specific item of clothing was adopted along with the item itself. Its spelling was adapted to the Roman alphabet, standardizing as 'dhoti', and it remains a culture-specific term in English with a single, precise referent.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from Hindi (धोती, dhōtī). It is not productively formed from smaller, meaningful morphemes within the English language system.
Examples
The man was dressed in a simple white dhoti for the ceremony.
Dhotis are commonly worn in rural areas of India.
He carefully pleated and tucked the dhoti before securing it at his waist.