bongo

¹

[ bong-goh, bawng- ]

noun

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

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

bongo

²

[ bong-goh, bawng- ]

noun

, plural bon·gos, bon·goes.

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

bongo

¹

/ ˈbɒŋɡəʊ /

noun

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

Bongo

²

/ ˈbɒŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. BongoOmar19352009MGabonesePOLITICS: head of state Omar . original name Albert Bernard Bongo . 1935–2009, Gabonese statesman; president of Gabon (1967–2009)

bongo

³

/ ˈbɒŋɡəʊ /

noun

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

Other Words From

• bongo·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bongo¹

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

Origin of bongo²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bongo¹

of African origin

Origin of bongo²

American Spanish, probably of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Vanessa Hudgens might have a campaign for Bongo, but blogger Elin Kling designed a collaboration for H&M.

From The Daily Beast

Yielding to his repeated pressure, Alexina and her followers advanced to Bongo, where he exercised authority.

From Project Gutenberg

Ould Nobisane, called Bongo Dono, died ij daies past, which was said to dy before the king arived.

From Project Gutenberg

I've got a roasted bongo, a fried filamaloo bird, and a boiled warple for the meat dishes.

From Project Gutenberg

And to the divvus the myla has a trin bongo drum and latchers tiknos, but the pash-grai has kek.

From Project Gutenberg

The Bongo, unlike other of the upper Nile Negroes, are not great cattle-breeders, but employ their time in agriculture.

From Project Gutenberg