noun
- plural of memsahib: European women, especially wives of British officials, living in colonial India
Usage: historical; colonial period
Examples
- The memsahibs gathered for afternoon tea at the club.
- Local servants were expected to address the memsahibs with proper deference.
- The memsahibs often struggled with the heat and humidity of the Indian climate.
- Many memsahibs maintained English customs despite living abroad.
- The novel depicted the daily lives of memsahibs in colonial Bengal.
- Some memsahibs learned local languages to communicate better with their staff.