‘Chuddies’ Makes It To The Oxford English Dictionary

London: ‘Chuddies’ (Hindi for underpants) has found recognition in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) in its latest edition.

It has become the latest Indian word to be incorporated along with other new words such as ‘jibbons’ and ‘sitooterie’.

The dictionary describes the etymology of ‘chuddies’ and adds: ‘Short trousers, shorts. Now usually: underwear; underpants’.

The dictionary mentions its first use in the Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine in 1858 and in the 1885 Gazetteer Bombay Presidency: “The men wear a pair of short light drawers of chaddis reaching to the knee.”

The March update to the dictionary includes 650 new words, phrases and senses.

The Oxford English Dictionary undergoes revision four times every year. Apart from new words and phrases, new senses are added to existing words.

Jonathan Dent, a senior assistant editor at OED told The Hindustan Times: “Our coverage of British Indian usage gets an update with the addition of the dismissive kiss my chuddies (underpants), popularised as a catchphrase by actor and writer Sanjeev Bhaskar”. Sanjeev played an anchor role in the British sitcom Goodness Gracious Me aired in the 90s.

Some of the commonly used words of Indian etymology are: loot, bungalow, avatar, mantra, chutney, cot, dacoit, dungaree, juggernaut, guru, pundit, khaki, jungle, nirvana, pukka, pyjamas, veranda, maharajah and punch.