Where does “dabbawalla” come from?

dabbawalla (English) comes from Marathi डबेवाला, from Hindi डब्बावाला, from Hindi डब्बा, from Urdu ڈبہ — a box, container.

dabbawalla (English): A deliveryperson in Mumbai, India who collects...

Definitions

  1. A deliveryperson in Mumbai, India who collects...

Ancestry of “dabbawalla”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Marathiडबेवाला—
2Hindiडब्बावालाa dabbawalla
3Hindiडब्बाAlternative form of डिब्बा; box
4Urduڈبہa box, container
Every word from Urdu ڈبہ →Every word from Hindi डब्बा →Every word from Hindi डब्बावाला →