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mehndi. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
mehndi, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
mehndi in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
mehndi you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from Hindustani مہندی (mihandī) / मेहंदी (mehandī), from Sanskrit मेन्धिका (mendhikā).
Noun
mehndi (countable and uncountable, plural mehndis)
- (chiefly South Asia, countable) A henna plant (Lawsonia inermis) or (uncountable) a preparation of this used for dyeing.
1973, JG Farrell, The Siege of Krishnapur:The first lot to be put up was a tin of sugar biscuits and a jar of ‘mendy’, a pomade of native origin for dyeing the hair black.
2023, Radhika Iyengar, Fire on the Ganges, Fourth Estate, page 53:She was thirteen, a young bride whose small palms had been stained burgundy with mehndi for a man she knew nothing about, not even his name.
- (chiefly South Asia) The practice of applying temporary tattoos from this substance, typically as part of a bride or groom's preparations for a wedding; such a tattoo.
2010 April 20, Homa Khaleeli, The Guardian:Then came the Mehndi ceremony – where henna is painted on the bride's hands and feet, and the bride and groom's family try to outdo each other in singing and dancing.