babus
|ba-bus|
/bəˈbuːz/
(babu)
respectful familiar address; Indian clerk
Etymology
'babus' originates from Hindi, specifically the word 'babu' (बाबू), where the form was used as an honorific for a respected man.
'babu' entered English in the late 18th to 19th century (often spelled 'baboo') via British contact with Bengali/Hindi speakers in India; the plural 'babus' is the regular English plural of that borrowing.
Initially it meant 'father'/'respected man' in South Asian usage, then in English colonial contexts it often came to mean 'native clerk' or 'bureaucratic official' (sometimes with a slightly pejorative sense).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'babu': native clerks or minor officials in South Asian (historical/colonial) administrations; often used in British English of the 19th–20th centuries.
The babus in the district office processed hundreds of applications each week.
Synonyms
Noun 2
plural of 'babu': respectful form of address for gentlemen or educated men in parts of South Asia (non-colonial, honorific use).
The elders addressed the visiting teachers as babus out of respect.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/24 05:56