Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “goombah” come from?

goombah (English) comes from Neapolitan cumpà, from Latin compatrem, from Latin compater, from Latin com-, from Latin con-, from Latin cum, from Old Latin com, from Proto-Italic kom — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

goombah (English): A person of Italian descent; A companion, pal,...

Definitions

  1. A person of Italian descent; A companion, pal,...

Ancestry of “goombah”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Neapolitancumpàmale friend, buddy
2Latincompatremaccusative singular of compater
3Latincompaterfirst cousin; godfather
4Latincom-allomorph of con-
5Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →