Caddy comes from the world of colonial British tea plantations; it is from Malay kati, meaning 'unit of weight equivalent to about one and one-third pounds. The box that holds this quantity of tea is, too, a caddy. Not at all the same thing as a caddie.
Cad"dy (?), n.; pl. Caddies (#). [Earlier spelt catty, fr. Malay kati a weight of 1�xa7; pounds. Cf. Catty.]
A small box, can, or chest to keep tea in.
© Webster 1913.
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