dhoti

noun

dho·​ti ˈdō-tē How to pronounce dhoti (audio)
plural dhotis
: a loincloth worn by men in some parts of India

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web To translate the practicality and elegance of the dhoti for a Western consumer. Guy Trebay, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Reinvigorated and clad in a saffron dhoti, Ram exacts revenge on the despotic British governor with the help of his burly friend Bheem, who bears a resemblance to the Hindu god Hanuman. Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 Balkrishna, who prefers to wear a traditional white dhoti, has often said that his wealth will be used to serve others. Ramakrishnan Narayanan, Forbes, 31 Aug. 2021 Groups of women in bright saris and men wearing white dhoti pants watched the inauguration live as reporters broadcast the villagers’ celebrations to millions of Indians. Aijaz Rahi, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Jan. 2021 Inside, Qandeel’s father, eighty-year-old Muhammad Azeem, perches on a black imitation-leather sofa, his legs, stick-thin within the loose folds of a dhoti, pulled close to his chest. New York Times, 2 Feb. 2020 He was perched on his rocking chair in his usual outfit — a silk beige kurta and a white muslin dhoti — with one of his English dictionaries in hand. Namrata Poddar, Longreads, 8 Mar. 2018 Amused with the scrum that had formed around Mr. Chaudhary, a man in a white dhoti spoke up in English from the back of the crowd, announcing himself as Kailash Mishra, the landowner who employed the girl’s father in his fields. Kai Schultz And Suhasini Raj, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2018 Fishburne topped off the look with red shoes and a red dhoti, which is a length of cloth that is wrapped around the waist and tied at the front. Sam Reed, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2018 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dhoti.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu dhotī

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dhoti was in 1612

Dictionary Entries Near dhoti

Cite this Entry

“Dhoti.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dhoti. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

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