memsahib

American  

[mem-sahb, mem-sah-ib, ‐hib, ‐heeb] / ˈmɛm sɑb, ˈmɛm sɑ ɪb, ‐hɪb, ‐hib /

noun

1. (formerly, in India) a term of respect for a married European woman.

---

memsahib British  

/ -hɪb, ˈmɛmˌsɑːɪb /

noun

1. (formerly in India) a term of respect used of a European married woman

---

Etymology

Origin of memsahib

First recorded in 1855–60; from Hindi, equivalent to mem (from English ma'am ) + sāhib “master” (from Arabic ṣāḥib )

Example Sentences

And would have, if the memsahib hadn’t shot me a glance that said, Dear, why don’t we move on from the heron?

From Forbes • Jun. 4, 2013

Deborah Kerr is very pukka memsahib, and Barry Nelson displays his boyish charm, though the patina of age has begun to dull it.

From Time Magazine Archive

I pretended to know what a memsahib is.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

The memsahib had said nothing all this time, had known nothing.

From The Story of Sonny Sahib by Duncan, Sara Jeannette

Meantime the memsahib had entered her gari and was being driven as fast as the ponies could take her to the hospital.

From In Kali's Country Tales from Sunny India by Sheets, Emily Churchill Thompson