boogum

noun

boo·​gum
ˈbü-gəm
variants or boojum
ˈbü-jəm How to pronounce boogum (audio)
plural -s
: a spiny tree (Idria columnaris) of the family Fouquieriaceae chiefly of Lower California sometimes arching over and rooting at its tips

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from boojum, an imaginary creature in The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll (C.L.Dodgson) †1898 English mathematician & writer; from its grotesque appearance

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boogum was in 1951

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Dictionary Entries Near boogum

boogie-woogie

boogum

boo-hoo

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Boogum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boogum. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

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