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.

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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”

Example Sentences

Sylvester Stallone as an “over-the-hill goombah” who brings East Coast mobster methods to a heartland city?

From The Wall Street Journal

But while a turncoat’s testimony is standard second-act fare in goombah dramas, the congressional reaction offered a fresh twist.

From Washington Post

“When I was called a human pinkie ring and a goombah while in the @Whitehouse that was deemed acceptable comedy,” tweeted Anthony Scaramucci, who was the president’s communications director for 10 days.

From Washington Post

In his review for The Times, Justin Chang grappled with the tricky elements of the movie's tone, when he wrote, "Robbie's performance, especially in its wrenching final moments, lights up the movie like a beacon, and her sympathetic reclamation of Harding's image feels fully earned. But the irony of this story — especially with a title like 'I, Tonya' — is that Tonya herself, easy as she is to root for, feels almost upstaged by all the secondhand goombah shenanigans on display."

From Los Angeles Times

But the irony of this story — especially with a title like “I, Tonya” — is that Tonya herself, easy as she is to root for, feels almost upstaged by all the secondhand goombah shenanigans on display.

From Los Angeles Times