gumby

noun

gum·​by
ˈgu̇mbē,
ˈgüm-
variants or less commonly gumbé
-ˌbā,
⸗ˈ⸗
plural gumbies also gumbés
: a drum made by stretching a skin over a piece of a hollowed tree and used especially in the West Indies

Word History

Etymology

of Bantu origin; akin to Kongo nkumbi ceremonial drum, Tshiluba nkumbi drum

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!

Dictionary Entries Near gumby

Cite this Entry

“Gumby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gumby. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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