goombah

n. Slang
A companion or associate, especially an older friend who acts as a patron, protector, or adviser.

[Probably alteration of Italian compare, godfather, from Medieval Latin compater. See compadre.]

[fr. It. dial. compare, gumbare : literally, godfather]
1) a close friend or associate - esp. among Italian- American men
2) mafioso; broadly: gangster  3) a macho Italian-American man

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(GOOM-bah)

noun
1. Friend, accomplice, or crony.
2. Godfather or mentor.
3. Gangster or Mafioso.

Etymology
Dialectal pronunciation of Italian compa, a clipping of compare (godfather, friend, or accomplice), from Latin compater, from com- (with) + pater (father).]

Usage
"It was his goombahs. It's the first rule in the underworld: It is not your enemies you have to worry about, it's your friends." — Boston's Mobsters a Dysfunctional Family; Boston Globe; Jan 11, 1995.

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