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.

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memsahib British  

/ -hɪb, ˈmɛmˌsɑːɪb /

noun

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

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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, sinking on her knees by the bed with her arms around the thin, brown shoulders, implanted a kiss upon the gray hair.

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

"No, Memsahib, not even then, for it was better that Old Sarah should die all alone than that the memsahib and the dear, orphan children should die too."

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