ca·lum·ba noun alsoco·lum·baorco·lom·ba\kəˈləmbə\; orco·lom·boorco·lum·boorca·lom·bo\kəˈləm(ˌ)bō\ (-s) Etymology: perhaps of African origin, akin to Hausa ka1lu1mbo2, a small tree : the root of an African plant (Jatrorrhiza palmata) of the family Menispermaceae that contains the bitter principle columbin and is used as a tonic