A History of the Mahrattas v2.c46.8

v2.c46.8

This Mādhu Rāo Pēshwā was known as ‘Savāi Mādhu Rāo’ to distinguish him from the great Mādhu Rāo, who died in 1772. ‘Savāi Mādhu Rāo’ is a term of flattery, meaning literally ‘a Mādhu Rāo and a quarter,’ in the same way that we say in English ‘There’s a horse and a half for you,’ meaning a very good horse (cf. Savāi Jai Singh of Jaipur). The word Savāi is frequently used in this sense in naming vessels and country craft on the coast of Western India, e.g. Lābh Savāi (‘gain and a quarter’). See Wilson, Native Craft of Bombay Harbour, 1909, Bombay Port Trust Records.]