Pooh-Bah

See also: poohbah, pooh-bah, and pooh bah

English

Alternative forms

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

Etymology

From Pooh-Bah, a comic character in the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta The Mikado.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpuːbɑː/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

Pooh-Bah (plural Pooh-Bahs)

1. Alternative form of poobah
   • 1885 — Gilbert & Sullivan, The Mikado

     It is consequently my degrading duty to serve this upstart as First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Chief Justice, Commander-in-Chief, Lord High Admiral, Master of the Buckhounds, Groom of the Back Stairs, Archbishop of Titipu, and Lord Mayor, both acting and elect, all rolled into one. And at a salary! A Pooh-Bah paid for his services!

Derived terms

• grand poobah