* Singlish is a largely spoken creole, and as such descriptivism (recording forms that reflect actual pronunciation in spoken language, or as appearing in the linguistic corpus) is more pertinent than strict prescriptivism. Nevertheless, the use of more standard forms (or for words originating in languages with Latin script, such as Malay, accurate to the original spelling) is recommended and encouraged.
also can:
dhobi mark
dhoby mark
/ˈdəʊbi/
→
Hindi:
धोबी
dhobī
+
English:
mark
definitions
noun
- (dated) an unobtrusive stain made by dhobis on clients' laundry, in order to identify who the clothes belonged to. It was traditionally done using the nut of the Semecarpus anacardium, a plant in the cashew family, which leaves a water-insoluble mark on cloth.
- (fig.) a signature; an indelible mark
Senkottan is an unusual word among the urban readership for it is the name of a seed used to etch dhoby marks in bygone days.
— 2014 April 27, Sunday Observer
Our present education system is out of date and focus. Every education minister on his way to becoming a prime minister, (whether he succeeds at this or not is another matter) will put his racially-slanted 'dhoby mark' on the education system and disappear for his successor to do damage control.
— 2010 January 22, quote by Ahmad Iqhbal. MalaysiaKini, "Surau attacks the 'work of cowards'". https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/122537
references:
3.
Burrow, T., Emeneau, M. B. (1984). A Dravidian Etymological Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press. ch.1147. ISBN: 0198643268