Other definitions

After reading Dr. Cyril Wecht's response ("I Didn't Use 'Goombah' As a Slur," Jan. 27) to the opinion piece by David DeAngelo ("On Goombahs and Guidos," Jan. 24 Forum), I went online to see how "goombah" is defined. The link to the Merriam-Webster dictionary I found gave three definitions as well as the word's origins. A literal translation is given from an Italian dialect as "godfather." The first meaning is much as Dr. Wecht defined it. The second two refer to a member of the mafioso and a macho Italian male.

I think Dr. Wecht needs to broaden his dictionary horizons.

 

BRYCE SWAN
Brookline