noun
sahib
SAH-hib/ˈsɑːhɪb/
A respectful title for a man, especially in South Asia.
At the meeting, she addresses the elder as sahib.
Etymology
The ancestor meant “friend” or “companion,” while the Indian title carried the stronger sense “master” or “lord.” English adopted it as a respectful form of address to Europeans in India.
In context
Come thou also, Sahib, a little along the road, and I will sell thee a charm
That is the government's house, and there is no idolatry in it, but only a [Sahib] with a white beard.
More examples
- “Thank you, sahib,” the driver says with a nod.
- The letter respectfully addresses him as Khan sahib.
- In the novel, the villagers call the visiting men sahibs.
Forms
sahib · sahibs