tincoating (kalhai in marathi कल्हई ) of copper and brass vessels and plates is now current in many parts of India. food placed in them. This action is lessened, if not prevented, by the tin coating applied to the vessels. Persons who have made tin-coating a profession are called 'Kalhaiwallas' ( कल्हईवाला).
Kalhaiwallas move about from house to house, doing the work of tin-coating on the spot with the help of instruments and material which they carry with them.
The rate for tinning vessels of ordinary size is generally quoted for 100 vessels of assorted size.
Marathi Etymological Dictionary, the following entry about kalhai: kalhai = kathilaca mulama, etc. - Tinning, the wash of tin given to culinary utensils.
kalhaifrom Arabic kalhai = Kathil and records a usage of the word from Rajwade's Sources of Maratha History.
In this usage the word Kalhai does not mean tin-coating but the coating of mercury (para) applied to mirrors.
Hindi word for the process of tinning pots and pans. Hindi 'Kalai Karna' is clearly from Arabic 'Calai'.
कल्हईवाला, कल्हई
10 дек 2014
