Definition of POOBAH

poobah

Meanings

Plural: poobahs

Noun

  • A person who holds multiple offices or positions of power at the same time.
  • A leader or other important person.
  • A pompous, self-important person.

Origin / Etymology

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.

Scrabble Score: 13

poobah is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
poobah is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
poobah is not valid in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 0

poobah is not valid in Words With Friends