gumbo

¹gum·bo

noun \ˈgəm-(ˌ)bō\

plural gumbos

Definition of GUMBO

1

: a soup thickened with okra pods or filé and containing meat or seafoods and usually vegetables

2

: okra 1

3

a : any of various fine-grained silty soils especially of the central United States that when wet become impervious and soapy or waxy and very sticky

b : a heavy sticky mud

4

: mixture, mélange

— gumbo adjective

Origin of GUMBO

American French gombo, of Bantu origin; akin to Umbundu ochinggômbo okra

First Known Use: 1805

Rhymes with GUMBO

jumbo

²gumbo

noun, often capitalized

Definition of GUMBO

: creole 4a

Origin of GUMBO

American French gombo, perhaps from Kongo nkômbô runaway slave

First Known Use: 1838

gumbo

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In soil science, any of various fine-grained, rich, black, alluvial soils, especially of the central U.S., that when wet become impenetrable and soapy or waxy and very sticky. When dried, gumbo “bakes” and becomes extremely hard.