From Pooh-Bah, a comic character in the Gilbert & SullivanoperettaThe Mikado (1885), formed as pooh +bah, both expressing contempt. Libretto by W. S. Gilbert, preceded by character Pish-Tush-Pooh-Bah (described as “haughty”) in “King Borriah Bungalee Boo” (1866), one of the Bab Ballads, with pish and tush other terms of contempt.