oompah
noun
oom·pah ˈüm-(ˌ)pä 
ˈu̇m-
variants or less commonly oompah-pah
ˌüm-(ˌ)pä-ˈpä
ˌu̇m-
: a repeated rhythmic bass accompaniment especially in a band
also : music featuring such accompaniment
oompah verb
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web This year’s event included some of the usual suspects: crowd favorite Die Guggenbach Buam, the five-man band from Germany playing traditional oompah-pah music, 13 different kinds of beers and German pastries, cookies and cakes. 
San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Oct. 2019 Every hall has a regular rotation of oompah bands, heavy on the brass. John Gurda, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2019 Havre de Grace Tourism Office held a grand Oktoberfest, in Hutchins Park on Oct. 12 with oompah bands and dancers, plenty of sauerkraut, beer, bratwurst and pretzels. Ronald Browning, baltimoresun.com, 25 Oct. 2019 The 46th annual La Mesa Oktoberfest fills nearly six blocks with a biergarten, beer stein races, keg bowling, vendors and oompah bands. Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Oct. 2019 Between now and late October, drinkers can sip golden-yellow lager, dance to oompah bands and load their plates with brats and spaetzle at multiple parties from Fort Lauderdale to Lake Worth to Hollywood. Phillip Valys, sun-sentinel.com, 27 Sep. 2019 To celebrate, Jack’s Abby in Framingham (100 Clinton St.) hosts its first Oktoberfest Sept. 27-29 with oompah bands, German food, and the introduction of a malty new lager, Copper Legend. Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2019 In an otherwise forgettable performance, the oompah of a polka stood out as a highlight. Kelly Whiteside, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2018 Get your polka on with local oompah bands, grab a stein and sample authentic Bavarian delicacies. Alaska Dispatch News, 28 Sep. 2017 See More
San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Oct. 2019 Every hall has a regular rotation of oompah bands, heavy on the brass. John Gurda, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2019 Havre de Grace Tourism Office held a grand Oktoberfest, in Hutchins Park on Oct. 12 with oompah bands and dancers, plenty of sauerkraut, beer, bratwurst and pretzels. Ronald Browning, baltimoresun.com, 25 Oct. 2019 The 46th annual La Mesa Oktoberfest fills nearly six blocks with a biergarten, beer stein races, keg bowling, vendors and oompah bands. Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Oct. 2019 Between now and late October, drinkers can sip golden-yellow lager, dance to oompah bands and load their plates with brats and spaetzle at multiple parties from Fort Lauderdale to Lake Worth to Hollywood. Phillip Valys, sun-sentinel.com, 27 Sep. 2019 To celebrate, Jack’s Abby in Framingham (100 Clinton St.) hosts its first Oktoberfest Sept. 27-29 with oompah bands, German food, and the introduction of a malty new lager, Copper Legend. Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2019 In an otherwise forgettable performance, the oompah of a polka stood out as a highlight. Kelly Whiteside, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2018 Get your polka on with local oompah bands, grab a stein and sample authentic Bavarian delicacies. Alaska Dispatch News, 28 Sep. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
imitative
First Known Use
1877, in the meaning defined above