Babus
a Hindu title of address equivalent to Sir, Mr., or Esquire.
a Hindu gentleman.
a native Indian clerk who can write English.
Usually Disparaging. any native Indian having only a limited knowledge of English.
Historical Examples
All we babus talk English to show off,’ said Hurree, flinging his shoulder-cloth jauntily.
Kim Rudyard Kipling
Once upon a time the babus of Nayanjore were famous landholders.
The Hungry Stones And Other Stories Rabindranath Tagore
We had a man killed in one of our forest villages at Mendabari recently; and our babus were held up the other day by a rogue.
Life in an Indian Outpost Gordon Casserly
Once upon a time the babus at Nayanjore were famous landholders.
Stories from Tagore Rabindranath Tagore
I heard he had told his friends that the babus of Nayanjore never craved a boon.
The Hungry Stones And Other Stories Rabindranath Tagore
But, cried the Oriental in him, babus do not travel far to retail compliments.
Kim Rudyard Kipling
Sahibs cannot distinguish one hillman from another, but babus have eyes for men—and women.’
Kim Rudyard Kipling
No concessions to the clamour of the babus of Bengal will retain the loyalty of this country.
Life in an Indian Outpost Gordon Casserly
The babus make beautiful accountants, and if we could only see it, a merciful Providence has made the Babu for figures and detail.
From Sea to Sea Rudyard Kipling
noun
(in India) a title or form of address more or less equivalent to Mr, placed before a person’s full name or after his first name
Read Also:
- Babushka
a woman’s scarf, often triangular, used as a hood with two of the ends tied under the chin. an elderly Russian woman, especially an elderly grandmother. Historical Examples “Take me back, babushka,” I could hear his shaken voice imploring. The Prairie Mother Arthur Stringer She moved closer to the old woman, and said affably: “babushka […]
- Babuyan islands
a group of islands in the Philippines, N of Luzon. 225 sq. mi. (580 sq. km).
- Baby at
baby at hardware The redesigned AT motherboard that had the same size as the XT motherboard had (8.5″ x 11″) and could thus fit into an XT case. The original 12″ x 13″ AT motherboards are now largely forgotten. Compare ATX. (1997-02-20)
- Baby back ribs
plural noun the meaty pork ribs that come from the blade and center section of the loin, the lower back rib section Examples These are finger-lickin’ good baby back ribs – the meat is so tender that it falls off the bone as you lift them out of the pan. Word Origin 1981; not from […]
- Baby beef
a young beef animal that has been fattened for marketing when 12 to 20 months old. the meat of a baby beef.