Goombah
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Look up goombah in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
Goombah (also spelled as Goomba, Goombah, Gumba, Gumbah) is a slang term referring to people of Italian descent, mainly in the US.
Etymology
Goombah and similar forms probably derived as an alteration of compa' , the apocoped, oxytone form of compare found in the Southern Italian dialects. Compare originally defined (and it still does in Italy) both the godfather and the godson of a Catholic Baptism; hence "benefactor, friend". This ultimately derives from medieval Latin compater.[1]
Gumba is a slang noun for a companion or associate, especially an older friend who acts as a patron, protector, or adviser. When used by non-Italians, goomba is often derogatory in nature, implying a stereotypical Italian-American male or Mafioso.[2]
Goomba, Goombah, Gumba, Gumbah may also refer to:
- Goombas, fictional creatures in the Super Mario video game series
- Goomba, a Game Boy video game emulator named for the Mario creature
- A dumb person[2]
- A Goomba's Guide to Life, a book by Steve Schirripa and Charles Fleming (ISBN 1-4000-4639-4)
- Goombah, alternative spelling of gumbe, a Jamaican drum; see List of Caribbean drums and Music of Jamaica
- Local term for Goombala Road in Victoria, Australia
See also
- paisan, interchangeable non-pejorative slang for an Italian American
- Guido (slang)
- Wop
- Mafioso
- Guappo
References
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