Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

boogum

noun
boo·gum | \ ˈbü-gəm \
variants: or boojum \ˈbü-jəm \
plural -s

Definition of boogum 

: a spiny tree (Idria columnaris) of the family Fouquieriaceae chiefly of Lower California sometimes arching over and rooting at its tips

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of boogum

1951, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for boogum

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about boogum

Dictionary Entries near boogum

boogie

boogie board

boogie-woogie

boogum

boo-hoo

Booidea

boojum

Statistics for boogum

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for boogum

The first known use of boogum was in 1951

See more words from the same year

Comments on boogum

What made you want to look up boogum? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

secrete

to deposit or conceal in a hiding place

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Name that Food Quiz

  • alt-573b465788319
  • Name these cookies!
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games