Muckamuck
/ˈmʌkəˌmʌk/noun
A person of importance or authority, especially in the phrase “high muckamuck.”
Did you know?In Chinook Jargon, muckamuck originally referred to food or eating; its later association with influential people likely grew from the social power of hosting and attending important feasts.
Etymological Timeline
Before the 19th Century
Nuu-chah-nulth
makuk
“Food or something to eat”
Early 19th Century
Chinook Jargon
muckamuck
“Food, eating, or a meal; the reduplicated form reflects the contact language’s vocabulary”
Mid-19th Century
Pacific Northwest English
muckamuck
“Food or provisions, borrowed from Chinook Jargon”
Late 19th Century
English
high muckamuck
“A person of rank or importance, figuratively someone seated at the powerful end of the table”
Modern English
English
muckamuck
“An important person, especially an official or influential figure”