boojum

noun

boo·​jum ˈbü-jəm How to pronounce boojum (audio)
: a tall spiny long-lived desert tree (Fouquieria columnaris synonym Idria columnaris) native to northwestern Mexico and related to the ocotillo

Examples of boojum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As Lewis Carroll might have said, outliving the snark is one way to never become your own boojum. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 29 July 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boojum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from boojum, an imaginary creature in The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll; from its grotesque appearance

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boojum was in 1951

Dictionary Entries Near boojum

Cite this Entry

“Boojum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boojum. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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