Where does “Jumbo” come from?
Jumbo (English) comes from Swahili jumbe, from Swahili umba, from Proto-Bantu -bʊ́mba — to work clay.
Jumbo (English): A nickname for one or that of a large size
Definitions
- A nickname for one or that of a large size
Ancestry of “Jumbo”, step by step
Jumbo traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Swahili jumbe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swahili | jumbe | chief, headman |
| 2 | Swahili | umba | to create; to fashion; to make pottery |
| 3 | Proto-Bantu | -bʊ́mba | to work clay |
via English mumbo jumbo
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | mumbo jumbo | A deity or other supernatural being said to have... |
| 2 | Mandinka | maamajomboo | mask; masked dancer |