From ‘bobolee’ to ‘pholourie,’ the Oxford English Dictionary adds 12 new Caribbean words

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The Caribbean has elbowed its way into the Oxford English Dictionary with 12 new words commonly used in the region that officials publicly recognized on Wednesday.

The longest of the words is “carry-go-bring-come,” and it dates from 1825. Variations include “bring-back-carry-come” and “bring-come-and-carry-go,” but they all mean the same thing: gossip, or a person who spreads it, according to the dictionary.

Also under the letter ‘C’ is the cute-sounding “cou-cou,” a Caribbean dish that incorporates okra, butter and cornmeal, and, of course, the “cou-cou-stick,” which is self-explanatory.

Four other new words added to the dictionary also refer to food.

You have “bulla,” derived from the Spanish word “bollo,” or bread roll. It is “a small, round, flat cake f