gobo

Meaning

Noun

• A disc placed between a light and the illuminated object or actor in order to diffuse the glare.
• A template inserted over a light source in order to control the shape of the thrown light.
• A device used to shield a microphone from extraneous sounds.
• The taproot of young burdock plants, eaten as a root vegetable.

Origin

• Uncertain; possibly from go-between. It is sometimes considered an acronym and spelled GOBO, but this may be a folk etymology.
• From Japanese 牛蒡 ("burdock root").