boomshakalaka

English

Alternative forms

boom shakalaka

Etymology

Uncertain, but likely from the filler syllables boom-laka-laka-laka in the lyrics to the 1969 song "I Want to Take You Higher" by Sly and the Family Stone, which appeared as the corruption boom-shaka-laka-laka in subsequent covers; the modern shortened form boomshakalaka, as an apparent reference to "I Want to Take You Higher", appeared in the 1981 military comedy film Stripes. From there, a scriptwriter for the 1993 video game NBA Jam adopted it as onomatopoeic for a slam dunk in lines voiced by Tim Kitzrow, popularizing its use.

Interjection

boomshakalaka

(slang) An exclamation expressing dominance, excitement, joy, or triumph.

Noun

boomshakalaka (plural boomshakalakas)

(slang) The sound of a slam dunk and the board or chain rattling that follows.