[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886) › c10.9265 # Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.9265 Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.9265 - **Language:** English ### [c10.9265](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.c10.9265) MASKEE. This is a term in Chinese “pigeon,” meaning ‘never mind,’ ‘n’importe,’ which is constantly in the mouths of Europeans in China. It is supposed that it may be the corruption or ellipsis of a Portuguese expression, but nothing satisfactory has been suggested. \[Mr. Skeat writes: “Surely this is simply Port. \*mas que\*, probably imported direct through Macao, in the sense of ‘although, even, in spite of,’ like French \*malgre\*. And this seems to be its meaning in ‘pigeon’: - [Previous: c10.9264](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.c10.9264) - [Next: c10.9266](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.c10.9266) - [Up: c10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.c10) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.c10.9265](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.c10.9265) · Pramāṇa