memsahib

memsahib
memsahib mem"sa`hib, mem-sahib mem"-sa`hib(m[e^]m"s[aum]`[i^]b), n. [Hind. mem-s[=a]hib; mem (fr. E. ma'am) + Ar. [,c][=a]hib master. See {Sahib}.] Lady; mistress; -- used by Hindustani-speaking natives in India in addressing European women. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • memsahib — ► NOUN Indian, dated ▪ a respectful form of address for a married white woman. ORIGIN from an Indian pronunciation of ma am + SAHIB(Cf. ↑sahib) …   English terms dictionary

  • memsahib — [mem sä′ib, memsäb′] n. [Anglo Ind < mem (< MA AM) + Hindi ṣāḥib,SAHIB] lady; madam: a title used in colonial India by a servant, etc. in speaking to or of a European woman …   English World dictionary

  • memsahib — UK [ˈmemˌsɑːb] / US [memˈsɑb] noun [countable] Word forms memsahib : singular memsahib plural memsahibs Indian English an old word used for referring to a European woman …   English dictionary

  • memsahib — [[t]me̱msɑːb[/t]] memsahibs N COUNT; N TITLE; N VOC Memsahib was used to refer to or address white women in India, especially during the period of British rule, or sometimes to refer to or address upper class Indian women. [OLD FASHIONED] …   English dictionary

  • memsahib — /ˈmɛmsaɪb/ (say memsahib), / sahɪb/ (say sahhib) noun Indian English 1. (a term of respectful address to a European woman, especially a married woman.) 2. (a form of address used by people of low social status to a high ranking Indian woman.) 3.… …  

  • memsahib — noun Etymology: Hindi, from English ma am + Hindi & Urdu sahib sahib Date: 1852 a white foreign woman of high social status living in India; especially the wife of a British official …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • memsahib — /mem sah ib, eeb/, n. (formerly, in India) a term of respect for a married European woman. [1855 60; < Hindi, equiv. to mem ( < E MA AM) + sahib master ( < Ar sahib)] * * * …   Universalium

  • memsahib — noun formerly, a term of respect for a female white European in colonial India …   Wiktionary

  • memsahib — Inglish (Indian English) Dictionary similar in usage to Madam or ma am Honorific to refer to a woman boss or woman of higher status (from ma am sahib ) …   English dialects glossary

  • memsahib — mem|sahib [ˈmemˌsa:b US ˌsa:hıb, ˌsa:b] n old fashioned a European woman used in India …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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