bongo

[ bong-goh, bawng- ]

/ ˈbɒŋ goʊ, ˈbɔŋ- /

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noun, plural bon·gos, (especially collectively) bon·go.

a reddish-brown antelope, Taurotragus eurycerus, of the forests of tropical Africa, having white stripes and large, spirally twisted horns.

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Origin of bongo

1860–65; probably < a Bantu language; compare Lingala mongu an antelope

Words nearby bongo

bone turquoise, bone up, boneyard, bonfire, bong, bongo, bon gré, mal gré, bonham, Bonheur, bonheur-du-jour, Bonhoeffer

Other definitions for bongo (2 of 2)

bongo²

[ bong-goh, bawng- ]

/ ˈbɒŋ goʊ, ˈbɔŋ- /

noun, plural bon·gos, bon·goes.

one of a pair of small tuned drums, played by beating with the fingers.

Also called bongo drum .

Origin of bongo

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; from Latin American Spanish (Puerto Rico) bongó

OTHER WORDS FROM bongo

bon·go·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bongo in a sentence

Vanessa Hudgens might have a campaign for Bongo, but blogger Elin Kling designed a collaboration for H&M.
Tavi Gevinson: From Teen Fashion Queen to Broadway Star|Arabelle Sicardi|July 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yielding to his repeated pressure, Alexina and her followers advanced to Bongo, where he exercised authority.
Some Heroes of Travel|W. H. Davenport Adams
Ould Nobisane, called Bongo Dono, died ij daies past, which was said to dy before the king arived.
Diary of Richard Cocks, Volume II|Richard Cocks
I've got a roasted bongo, a fried filamaloo bird, and a boiled warple for the meat dishes.
Spacehounds of IPC|Edward Elmer Smith

And to the divvus the myla has a trin bongo drum and latchers tiknos, but the pash-grai has kek.
The English Gipsies and Their Language|Charles G. Leland
The Bongo, unlike other of the upper Nile Negroes, are not great cattle-breeders, but employ their time in agriculture.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for bongo (1 of 3)

bongo¹

/ (ˈbɒŋɡəʊ) /

noun plural -go or -gos

a rare spiral-horned antelope, Boocercus (or Taurotragus) eurycerus, inhabiting forests of central Africa. The coat is bright red-brown with narrow cream stripes

Word Origin for bongo

of African origin

British Dictionary definitions for bongo (2 of 3)

bongo²

/ (ˈbɒŋɡəʊ) /

noun plural -gos or -goes

a small bucket-shaped drum, usually one of a pair, played by beating with the fingers

Word Origin for bongo

American Spanish, probably of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for bongo (3 of 3)

Bongo

/ (ˈbɒŋɡəʊ) /

noun

Omar . original name Albert Bernard Bongo . 1935–2009, Gabonese statesman; president of Gabon (1967–2009)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012