poobah

Alternative spellings

• pooh-bah, poo-bah, Poo-Bah

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpuːbɑː/
• Audio (US)help, file

Noun

Singular
poobah

Plural
poobahs

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.

Quotations

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

Appears AJ has some poobah in him. Why do you stay, radio_flyer?