Bubblegum

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbʌbəlɡʌm/

Definitions

1. A chewy, sweetened confection typically enjoyed by children that is designed for blowing bubbles when chewed
2. A colorful and elastic candy that combines a pleasant taste with the ability to create bubbles while being chewed
3. A sweet, pliable candy that is often flavored and designed for chewing and blowing bubbles, making it popular among kids

Etymology: Bubblegum is a compound of two much older English words: "bubble" and "gum." The "gum" part has a long trail behind it. It traces back through Anglo-Norman and Late Latin "gumma" to Latin "cummis," and further to Ancient Greek "kómmi," a resin-like substance. Along that route the word also appears in Egyptian forms, which suggest the resin itself was traded and named across the eastern Mediterranean long before English had a word for it. The "gum" in Middle English meant a sticky plant secretion, such as the resin oozing from trees, rather than anything chewed for fun. Chewing these natural resins was an old habit, which is how the substance became associated with the mouth and eventually with sweetened chewing gum. The "bubble" half is simpler: it is an English word, and the compound describes exactly what the chewed gum is made to do. The result is a plain, transparent name, built from a very old material and a very ordinary English word.

Synonyms: gum, chewing gum, candy