goombah

[ goom-bah ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a companion or associate, especially an older person who mentors or advises; a godfather.
2. a member of a criminal organization.

Word History and Origins

Origin of goombah¹

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”