I agree with your logic, atqui. Surely the point is: was the person so called one of those, in your husband's judgment, and if so, why? Also, clearly, he was not using the word's literal meaning. Since your husband is a gentleman, he must have had a good reason to use that word.
I have yet to come across a word that shocked me. I've come across attitudes that shocked me, bad manners and that sort of a thing but that's about people not the words they use.