Sahib & Memsahib

During the days of the Raj officers in the army had their ladies (who
glowed), W.O.s and senior NCOs had their wives, (who perspired), and
Other Ranks had their women, (who sweated).

C Rihan...

I thought it was men who perspired and horses which sweated ?

Best wishes
C.Rihan

Were the terms 'Sahib' and 'Memsahib' applied to all, or was there a
social distinction in their use?

Eve McLaughlin...

Officers (or civilians of distinction/wealth and wives) - none of yer
common herd

Philip Maddocks...

Before the 'Mutiny' most of the women were Indian, 'anglo-indian' or
daughters of soldiers and 'anglo-indians'.

A. Gwilliam...

Didn't that change some decades before the Mutiny?

Post Warren Hastings, and all that.

andrew...

I thought so, too.

Yours Aye Andrew Sellon

Graeme Wall...

Just started reading Raj, so I'll get back to you.

Philip Maddocks

T.M. Sommers...

From the online Hobson-Jobson:

SAHIB , s. The title by which, all over India, European=20
gentlemen, and it may be said Europeans generally, are addressed,=20
and spoken of, when no disrespect is intended, by natives. It is=20
also the general title (at least where Hindustani or Persian is=20
used) which is affixed to the name or office of a European,=20
corresponding thus rather to Monsieur than to Mr. For Colonel=20
=E1=B9=A2=C4=81=E1=B8=A5ib, Collector =E1=B9=A2=C4=81=E1=B8=A5ib, Lord =E1=
=B9=A2=C4=81=E1=B8=A5ib, and even Sergeant =E1=B9=A2=C4=81=E1=B8=A5ib are=
=20
thus used, as well as the general vocative =E1=B9=A2=C4=81=E1=B8=A5ib! 'S=
ir!' In other=20
Hind. use the word is equivalent to 'Master'; and it is=20
occasionally used as a specific title both among Hindus and=20
Musulmans, e.g. Appa =E1=B9=A2=C4=81=E1=B8=A5ib, T=C4=ABp=C5=AB =E1=B9=A2=
=C4=81=E1=B8=A5ib; and generically is=20
affixed to the titles of men of rank when indicated by those=20
titles, as Kh=C4=81n =E1=B9=A2=C4=81=E1=B8=A5ib, Naw=C4=81b =E1=B9=A2=C4=81=
=E1=B8=A5ib, R=C4=81j=C4=81 =E1=B9=A2=C4=81=E1=B8=A5ib. The word is=20
Arabic, and originally means 'a companion'; (sometimes a=20
companion of Mahommed). [In the Arabian Nights it is the title of=20
a Waz=C4=ABr (Burton, i. 218).]

Graeme Wall...

Generally applied by the Indians to all (white) ranks as far as I can gather.

Yours Aye Andrew Sellon

CWatters...

Both used as a form of respectful address. Memsahib for a woman and Sahib
for a man I believe.