bibi
1
9.9
A local woman who lived with a foreign man as his paid companion during colonial times
- noun
- Offensive
:
concubina
- At the end of the day, all that finger-pointing, the dramatic sighs and harumphs, and the overly confident references to his friend "Bibi" (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) came off as fake.
Examples
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Many artists from that time depicted the bibi as a symbol of exotic allure in their paintings.
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In the colonial era, the bibi often lived lavishly while maintaining a significant influence over her wealthy lovers.
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Bibi's in town.
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The novels of that period frequently featured a bibi, showcasing the complexities of her role in society.
Synonyms
9.9
A woman who works as a prostitute
refers to a native mistress in colonial settings rather than only to a prostitute
Surface Forms
Etymology
Bibi was also used in colonial times when English speakers borrowed the Persian and Urdu bibi 'lady' to refer to a native woman who lived with a European officer, often as a mistress. That is why some old books use bibi in this historical sense.