Definitions For Poobah

Noun

POOBAH (plural POOBAHs) A person who holds multiple offices or positions of power at the same time. A leader or other important person. A pompous, self-important person.

Derived terms

grand poobah

Alternative forms

pooh bah, pooh-bah, poo bah, poo-bah, Poo-Bah, Pooh-Bah

Etymology

From Pooh-Bah, a comic character in the w:gilbert and sullivan + gilbert & sullivan operetta (1885), formed as pooh + bah, both expressing contempt. Libretto by , preceded by character Pish-Tush-Pooh-Bah (described as “haughty”) in “King Borriah Bungalee Boo” (1866), one of the , with and other terms of contempt.