Dhoby Ghaut - Etymology

Etymology

Typically in India, Dhobis call on regular clients, collect their dirty clothes and then take them to the Dhobi Ghats. The name is reminiscent of the famous Dhobi Ghat of Mumbai, India, which has rows of concrete wash pens, each with its own flogging stone. The Dhobi sloshes dirty linen into a soapy water mixture, thrashing them with the flogging stones, and then puts the linen into huge vats of starch. After which being dried, they are ironed and delivered to the owners. This is however not a standard practice of dhobis in general. In a large number of areas in the country, dhobis have migrated to washing machines and dryers, using the modern detergents.

In the more rural parts in India, clothes are taken to the nearest river or canal, preferably one with huge rocks or boulders on the banks and then flogged on these. They are then spread out over the nearest grassy land, and dried.

The word "dhobi" has also entered common usage in Singapore and Malaysia. In Malay, it is spelled "dobi" and means "to wash" or, when combined with kedai ("shop"), refers to a laundromat.

Places in Singapore by region

Central	Alexandra Ayer Rajah Bartley Bishan Marymount Sin Ming Bukit Timah Buona Vista Holland Village one-north Ghim Moh Chinatown Clarke Quay Kreta Ayer Telok Ayer Kent Ridge Kim Seng Little India Farrer Park Jalan Besar MacPherson Marina Bay Esplanade Marina Bay Sands Marina Centre Marina East Marina South Mount Faber Mount Vernon Bidadari Museum Newton Novena Orchard Road Dhoby Ghaut Emerald Hill Tanglin Outram Pasir Panjang Potong Pasir Rochor-Kampong Glam Bencoolen Bugis Queenstown Commonwealth Raffles Place River Valley Singapore River Southern Islands Tanjong Pagar Shenton Way Telok Blangah Bukit Chandu Bukit Purmei HarbourFront Keppel Radin Mas Mount Faber Tiong Bahru Bukit Ho Swee Bukit Merah Toa Payoh Bukit Brown Caldecott Hill Thomson Whampoa Balestier St. Michael's

East	Aljunied Bedok Bedok Reservoir Chai Chee Kaki Bukit Tanah Merah Changi Changi Bay Changi East Changi Village East Coast Eunos Geylang Joo Chiat Katong Kallang Kallang Bahru Kallang Basin Tanjong Rhu Mountbatten Kolam Ayer Old Airport Lavender Boon Keng Kembangan Pasir Ris Elias Lorong Halus Loyang Marine Parade Paya Lebar Siglap Tampines Simei Ubi

North	Central Catchment Nature Reserve Kranji Lentor Lim Chu Kang Neo Tiew Sungei Gedong Mandai Sembawang Senoko Simpang Sungei Kadut Woodlands Admiralty Innova Marsiling Woodgrove Yishun Chong Pang

North-East	Ang Mo Kio Cheng San Chong Boon Kebun Baru Teck Ghee Yio Chu Kang Hougang Defu Kovan Lorong Chuan North-Eastern Islands Punggol Punggol Point Seletar Sengkang Sengkang New Town Rivervale Compassvale (Buangkok) Anchorvale Fernvale Jalan Kayu Serangoon Serangoon Gardens Serangoon North

West	Bukit Batok Bukit Gombak Hillview Bukit Panjang Choa Chu Kang Yew Tee Clementi Dover West Coast Jurong Jurong East Jurong West Jurong Lake Yuhua Taman Jurong Tengah Boon Lay Gek Poh Ville Nanyang Pioneer Teban Gardens Hong Kah Pioneer Sector Jurong Hill Jurong Port Joo Koon Kian Teck Gul Neythal Penjuru Chin Bee Jurong Pier Sunview, Singapore Tanjong Kling Benoi Toh Tuck Lok Yang Soon Lee Tuas Tuas South Western Islands Planning Area Western Water Catchment Murai Pasir Laba Sarimbun

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