Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.12898

c10.12898

**SAHIB**, s. The title by which, all over India, European gentlemen, and it may be said Europeans generally, are addressed, and spoken of, when no disrespect is intended, by natives. It is also the general title (at least where Hindustani or Persian is used) which is affixed to the name or office of a European, corresponding thus rather to *Monsieur* than to *Mr.* For Colonel *Ṣāḥib*, Collector *Ṣāḥib*, Lord *Ṣāḥib*, and even Sergeant *Ṣāḥib* are thus used, as well as the general vocative *Ṣāḥib*! 'Sir!' In other Hind. use the word is equivalent to 'Master'; and it is occasionally used as a specific title both among Hindus and Musulmans, e.g. *Appa Ṣāḥib*, *Tipū Ṣāḥib*; and generically is affixed to the titles of men of rank when indicated by those titles, as Khān Ṣāḥib, Nawāb Ṣāḥib, Rājā Ṣāḥib. The word is Arabic, and originally means 'a companion'; (sometimes a companion of Mahommed). In the Arabian Nights it is the title of a Wazīr (Burton, i. 218).