Mistah, n. Chiefly U.S. and Caribbean.
Brit. /ˈmɪstə/, /ˈmistɑː/, U.S. /ˈmɪstə/, /ˈmiˌstɑ/, Caribbean /ˈmiˌstɑː/
Forms: 18 Miste', 18– Mista, 18– Mistah, 18– Mistuh, 19– Misteh[rare] [Also with lower-case initial.]
[Representing a non-rhotic pronunciation of mister n.2]
Mister. Usually prefixed to a name.
Chiefly as a respectful form of address in representations of African-American and black Caribbean speech.
| 1853C. Guild Dodge's Private Performance 17/2 in R. Morris Faithful Slave Aw! Is Mistah Dodge heah? 1855–8 ‘N. Buntline’ Miriam, or Jew's Daughter iii. 10 Wid a little sugar in it, if you please, Mista Joe? 1875 E. King Great South lxxxviii. 788 Sometimes the natives whom we encountered would say, ‘Mistah’, and pause, as if expecting you to supply your name. 1895 C. L. Edwards Bahamas Songs & Stories 95 She hax Miste' Sammy. 1926E. Walrond in S. Brown & J. Wickham Oxf. Bk. Caribbean Short Stories (1999) 26 Mistah Rum, you gwine play de guitah tee nite, no? 1993 V. Headley Excess ii. 11 Mek me tell yuh somet'ing, mista police. 2003 Guardian (Nexis) 10 May (Sport section) 6 We'd leave the car in the capable hands of the Moss Side tots (‘Can I mind your car, mistah?’) who promised not to let down the tyres if we paid them the going rate. |