English Explanatory Dictionary

muckamuck

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A person in a position of power or authority, or of high status.
  2. Food.

Word forms

muckamuck muckamucks muck-a-muck muckety muck muckety-muck muckey-muck mucky-muck mucky muck

Etymology

Borrowed from Chinook Jargon muckamuck (“food”). In the sense of person of authority, it is short for high muckamuck, from Chinook Jargon hayo muckamuck (“plenty to eat, plenty of food; to eat”). See muckety muck. The ultimate source of the word is unclear; it is possible that the term originated within Chinook Jargon itself, rather than being borrowed from another language.

Synonyms

baron big cheese big enchilada big gun big kahuna big man big name big noise big shot bigwig big wheel boss grand poobah head honcho heavy hitter heavyweight high muckamuck high muckety-muck king of all one surveys king of the castle king of the hill kingpin macher mayor muckamuck muckety muck mugwump numero uno panjandrum poobah rooster somebody top banana top boy top cat top dog top gun very important person VIP wheel
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