mum·bo jum·bo /ˌmʌmboˈʤʌm(ˌ)bo/
Mum·bo Jum·bo n.
1. Among the Mandingos of the western Sudan, a bugbear by means of which the women are terrified and disciplined by societies of the men, one of whom assumes a masquerade for the purpose; hence, loosely, any Negro idol, fetish, or bugaboo.
The miserable Mumbo Jumbo they paraded. --Dickens.
2. An object of superstitious homage and fear.
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mumbo jumbo
n 1: language that is unnecessarily difficult to understand
2: a state of confusion; ritual accompanied by complicated and
purposeless activity that obscures and confuses; "he
engaged in the hugger-mugger of international finance"
[syn: hugger-mugger]