As a place, Dhoby Ghaut lies along the eastern end of Orchard Road.

The Hindi term ghat passed into English usage during the British occupation of India, and was later anglicised to ghaut.

[3] Around this time, the British had also ruled Singapore, which influenced the naming of this area.

[4] Until the early 1900s, the dhobis used water from a clear stream that flowed into Sungai Bras Basah, now Stamford Canal.

The ghats, or steps leading down to the stream, were demolished when Sungai Bras Basah was canalised.