gumbo

¹

[ guhm-boh ]

noun

, plural gum·bos.

1. a stew or thick soup, usually made with chicken or seafood, greens, and okra or sometimes filé as a thickener.
2. okra.
3. soil that becomes sticky and nonporous when wet.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or like gumbo.

Gumbo

²

[ guhm-boh ]

noun

, (sometimes lowercase)

1. a French patois spoken by Black and Creole people in Louisiana and the French West Indies.

Gumbo

¹

/ ˈɡʌmbəʊ /

noun

1. sometimes not capital a French patois spoken by Creoles in Louisiana and the Caribbean

gumbo

²

/ ˈɡʌmbəʊ /

noun

1. the mucilaginous pods of okra
2. another name for okra
3. a soup or stew thickened with okra pods
4. a fine soil in the W prairies that becomes muddy when wet

Word History and Origins

Origin of gumbo¹

1795–1805, Americanism; < Louisiana French gombo, gumbo < a Bantu language; compare Umbundu ochinggombo, Luba chinggombo okra

Origin of gumbo²

First recorded in 1835–40; probably from the same source as gumbo ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of gumbo¹

see gumbo

Origin of gumbo²

C19: from Louisiana French gombo, of Bantu origin

Example Sentences

A light touch of herbs, some seasonings and a bright pop of fresh lemon juice, and you have a most brilliant concoction, a concoction that is now as much of a Creole classic as gumbo.

From Salon

The aroma of Mississippi-style gumbo, shrimp and grits, and peach cobbler cinnamon rolls is enough to make me hungry too, but JP doesn’t seem to care about food.

From Literature

Luckily the street is an artists’ enclave, with some opening their homes for Hantman’s dinner receptions — one in January served gumbo family-style two doors down at a local artist’s Midcentury Modern house.

From Los Angeles Times

We should consider ourselves lucky that the appropriated accents aren't dripping with Northern gumbo, i.e. the kind that punishes us instead of lending flavor.

From Salon

The popular eatery — which specializes in Southern food and serves generous portions of fried chicken and gumbo — is owned by Kevin Johnson, an All-Star guard for the Phoenix Suns and former mayor of Sacramento.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bouillon
• chowder
• porridge
• puree