| 释义 |
Mem-sahib Anglo-Indian.|ˈmɛmsɑːɪb|
Also memsahib and abbrev. mem.
[See quot. 1886 and sahib.]
A European married lady; also, one who behaves like a European woman.
1857Househ. Words 19 Dec. 16/1 An Affghan..inquired if the Sahib or Mem-sahib was in want of any of these commodities. 1886Yule & Burnell Hobson-Jobson, Mem-Sahib. This singular example of a hybrid term is the usual respectful designation of a European married lady in the Bengal Presidency; the first portion representing ma'am. Madam Sahib is used at Bombay. 1873C. M. Yonge Pillars of House III. xxxii. 205 She..heard that ‘it was but a few steps, and the Mem Sahib was waiting’. 1884Kipling Plain Tales from Hills (1888) 236 The half-caste woman that we call the Mem Sahib... The Mem Sahib looks very old now. 1939‘N. Blake’ Smiler with Knife i. 19 Snug little billet, this. How does the Mem like country life? 1971N. Barber War of Running Dogs xi. 124 The mems met at tea-parties to roll bandages. 1971R. Dentry Encounter at Kharmel iii. 45 ‘Memsahib!’ he exclaimed incredulously. ‘Correct,’ said Pepper. ‘One memsahib, two memsahibs.’ She held up two fingers. Ibid. 47 Respectfully, mem, you are tired. You come to the rest-house. 1971R. Russell tr. Ahmad's Shore & Wave ii. 23 These nawabs are turning their daughters into mem-sahibs. 1971Femina (Bombay) 30 Apr. 23/1 The shopkeeper is all smiles at having produced something exactly that the mem-sahib wanted. 1972A. Christie Elephants can Remember x. 151 You are speaking of what you might call the memsahib days..when there were Service communities in Malaya. 1972‘J. Ross’ Here lies Nancy Frail ix. 114 The room was a monument to a long-dead British Raj... She had the demeanour of a mem sahib in the making. |