Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
#8751 10/24/00 10:13 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
GOT IT!

Mogambo is Swahili for "big gorilla". (And, wouldn't you know, I plugged it into a web dictionary for Swahili and it came up no match!!) Ok, here's how I got this info.--

I called our library's trusty Just Ask line. This is what the lady told me. I daren't take the time to go here myself, so I hope I got this right.
Go to http://www.imdb.com. Type in the title of the movie. Go to external links miscellaneous, then classic movies. 'Fraid she lost me after that, but I'm sure you can figure it out.


#8752 10/25/00 08:10 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
R
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
R
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
But then there's:
http://www.kalinlures.com/mogambo.htm
Brrrrr!


Enough to put you off your grub, Eh?



#8753 10/25/00 12:38 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
F
veteran
Offline
veteran
F
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
Enough to put you off your grub, Eh?

Burble! Splutter splutter, slap slap!
(these are highly appreciative fish noises)




#8754 10/25/00 01:01 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
F
veteran
Offline
veteran
F
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
Well done, Jackie! Does tsuwm work for your library's Just Ask line, then?

Here's the place you end up:
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Studio/8255/filmog/film3.html
Mind you, all it says is exactly the same as Jackie's second sentence.

Could this be one of those cases where the word doesn't relate exclusively to one situation?
e.g:
Somebody who speaks Swahili sees a big gorilla coming out of the bushes and screams "Mogambo!!!" - everybody who understands Swahili runs away.

A bit further into the jungle, the group sights the grisly remains of a cannibal banquet. "Mogambo!!!" says one Swahili speaker to another, and they make themselves scarce. The sole remaining white man assumes that a big gorilla was responsible for the bloody mess around, and decides he'd better shoot the mogambo when he next gets the chance. And anyway, there's that little space on his mantelpiece, and normal ashtrays are so boring...



#8755 10/25/00 01:20 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,004
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,004
By your theory, then, 'Mogambo' might just mean "Let's get the f@$% out of here!"


#8756 10/25/00 02:13 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
R
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
R
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Reaching far back into the custard of my memory, I recall a book by (I think) R.M.Ballantyne, that fine writer of spiffing yarns, called The Gorilla Hunters which employed the same characters who had appeared in The Coral Island. In this yarn, which upheld all of the undoubted virtues of The British Empire, Gorillas were referred to, familiarly, as "puggies."
Any ideas where this word could have come from?


#8757 10/25/00 07:23 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Well done, Jackie! Does tsuwm work for your library's Just Ask line, then?

Thank you, dear! I kind of doubt that he does--it's pretty
long distance to the winterlands. 'Sides, it seems that he has several thousand web sites memorized--he IS a just-ask
line! 'Ceptin' he always tells you to "look it up', grumble, mumble...
I don't really mind looking it up--IF I know where to look!


#8758 10/25/00 07:33 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
>Ceptin' he always tells you to "look it up', grumble, mumble... IF I know where to look!

grumble, mumble indeed. let the record show that I have posted more links than a dozen discalced nuns.
::hmmmph::


#8759 10/25/00 07:44 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
grumble, mumble indeed. let the record show that I have posted more links than a dozen discalced nuns.
::hmmmph::


Ok, Mr. Grumble, so I'm lazy! But what does being discalced have to do with posting links, she said with the
distinct feeling of walking straight into a trap?




#8760 10/26/00 06:26 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
I cannot find any Swahili word meaning gorilla. I did learn that the Swahili word for monkey is tumbili or tumbiri or kima, and the word for baboon is nyani (and for "big" baboon nyani mkubwa) and the word for Colobus monkey is mbega, and the word for chimp is sokwe, and the word for small black monkey is ngedere ... none of which has jack squat to do with gorillas or mogambo. The time spent was justified entirely by learning that "Wapi choo?" in Swahili means "Where is the bathroom?" Research continues as the hope of success dwindles.




Page 2 of 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 302 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5