goombah

American  

[goom-bah] / ˈgum bɑ /

noun

Slang.

1. a companion or associate, especially an older person who mentors or advises; a godfather.

2. a member of a criminal organization.

---

Usage

What does goombah mean? Among Italian-Americans, a goombah is a slang term for a “close friend.” When directed at Italian-Americans, a goombah can be an ethnic slur or a gangster stereotype. A goombah also refers to a mushroom-shaped enemy in the Super Mario franchise.

Etymology

Origin of goombah

First recorded in 1965–70; perhaps from Neapolitan dialect cumbà, cumpà, gumbà “friend,” the form used in direct address of the noun cumbàr, cumpàr, gumbàr “respected older man,” formerly “godfather,” from Italian compàre “godfather, friend, accomplice,” from Medieval Latin compater “godfather”