The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
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
