babu

Etymology

From Hindi बाबू (bābū).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɑːbuː/

Noun

babu (plural babus)

1. A Hindu title of respect, equivalent to Mr., usually appended to the surname of a Hindu man [from 18th c.]
   • 1989, Amitav Ghosh, Shadow Lines:

     I could see Kana-babu’s sweet-shop at the end of their lane with absolute clarity.

2. (often depreciative, now chiefly historical) A Hindu gentleman or official, later especially an Indian office worker. [from 19th c.]
   • 1888, Rudyard Kipling, ‘His Chance in Life’, Plain Tales from the Hills, Folio 2005, p. 57:

     The Babu put on his cap and quietly dropped out of the window

   • 1934, George Orwell, Burmese Days, Chapter 2

     Office babus are the real rulers of this country now. Our number's up. Best thing we can do is to shut up shop and let 'em stew in their own juice.

Noun

babu

1. housemaid

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈbabu]

Noun

babu

1. accusative singular of baba
2. instrumental singular of baba

Adjective

babu

1. two

Noun

babu (n class, plural babu)

1. grandfather (from either side)

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *papu. The initial b- was introduced by analogy with Russian боб (bob).

Noun

babu

1. bean

References

• Zajceva, N. G.; Mullonen, M. I. (2007), “боб”, in Uz’ venä-vepsläine vajehnik / Novyj russko-vepsskij slovarʹ [New Russian–Veps Dictionary], Petrozavodsk: Periodika

Noun

babu

1. father