poobah

WOTD – 15 June 2006    

English

Alternative forms

• pooh bah, pooh-bah, poo bah, poo-bah, Poo-Bah, Pooh-Bah

Etymology

The Mikado, which features pompous lords

From Pooh-Bah, a comic character in the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta The Mikado (1885), formed as pooh +‎ bah, both expressing contempt. Libretto by W. S. Gilbert, preceded by character Pish-Tush-Pooh-Bah (described as “haughty”) in “King Borriah Bungalee Boo” (1866), one of the Bab Ballads, with pish and tush other terms of contempt.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpuːbɑː/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

poobah (plural poobahs)

1. A person holding multiple offices or positions of power, all at the same time.
2. An important person.
3. A pompous person.

Synonyms

• (holding multiple offices at the same time): dual mandate

Derived terms

• grand poobah