dhobi (dō′bē) - what on earth is that?

For the uninitiated, a DHOBI is an Indian washerman or woman.

Wikipedia states:

A dhobi is a washerman in Pakistan and India. Dhobis usually operate from door to door collecting dirty linen from households. After a day or two, they return the linen washed, sometimes starched and ironed. Each dhobi marks a unique symbol or character on garments belonging to a particular household. This is marked in black indelible ink to prevent it from being washed off.

So sometimes you hear the term "dhobi mark" used as "make sure you dhobi mark your item to say that is yours, otherwise ......" - just to practice my Singlish here!

In Singapore, there is an MRT station named DHOBY GHAUT which literally means WASHING PLACE. When I was younger, I remember going home to Katong via Orchard Road, Dhoby Ghaut, Bras Basah Road and Nichol Highway route. I was totally fascinated by the rows and rows of laundry (usually large white sheets) billowing in the wind along Dhoby Ghaut on the large green grass patch in front of the Orchard Road Presbyterian Church, that stretched all the way to the Catholic Church before Victoria Street near the Town Convent.

Wait a minute - what large green grass patch in front of Orchard Road Presbyterian Church??

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