The Devil’s Dictionary has the following definition:
My usual sources of etymological insight have proven unequal to the task. So my question is: what is a pumpum?
(after that, perhaps we could take on santons, caloyers, abdals, talapoins, mudjoes, and mutifs. But let’s start with the pumpums.)
In my google search I saw a lot of reference to Jamaican slang. It seems to reference a woman’s genitals. They also have something called pumpum shorts which are skin tight and really hoochie looking. I am thinking it has something to do with prostitutes or generally slutty women.
Given the misspelled words in the rest of the list, I think it’s impossible to guess what Bierce had in mind. It would have to be some sort of religious figure, which kind of leaves out Jamaican prostitutes (though some might worship them…).
I will WAG that it’s a misapprhension of panjandrum, a nonsense word coined by one Samuel Foote.
OED online turns up no hits for pumpum.
Nor for any of the other words you ask about.
mutif is probably a mispelling of mufti.
A talapoin is perhaps more widely known as a type of monkey, but apparently was originally a term for a buddhist monk. The appearance of the monkey appears to have given rise to the usage:
http://www.wordreference.com/English/definition.asp?en=talapoin
oo, some progress! thank you.
Santons are little Provençal clay or wood figurines used in Christmas Nativity scenes.
And a mudjoe is probably derived from African Fulani language “moco’o” - shaman or medicine man. Usually given as the etymology of “mojo”. I believe I’ve seen it spelled “mudjo”, and used for an African witch doctor or medicine man, but I couldn’t find such a usage online.
A caloyer is a Greek monk, and wasn’t very hard to find:
http://www.beetfoundation.com/words/c/caloyer.html
Note that the quote is from a 1913 dictionary. I suspect the word has fallen out of use since Bierce’s time.
“Pum Pum” - Important deity in animist pantheon of the pre-Islamic Saharan Tuareg tribes with possible origin in Dogon beliefs. Main western cultural reference is in the lyrics of the popular holiday song “The Little Drummer Boy” .
While the “pum pum” in the lyrics is seem by most as a simple onomatopoeic convention, the origin of the lyrics is actually from a chant of old Aramaic origin. In this context the “pum pum” is actually a sophisticated expression of blended faiths, interleaving the newer monotheistic belief paradigm with the traditional appeals to “Pum Pum”.
Cite? The lyrics were written by Katherine K. Davis to a traditional Czech tune; I can’t find (online) any evidence of a connection between her or her song and the Tuareg, Dogon, Sahara, or even Africa itself.
:dubious: [sub]I blame society.[/sub] :o