E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bomba.
King Bomba. A nickname given to Ferdinand II., King of Naples, in consequence of his cruel bombardment of Messi’na in 1848, in which the slaughter and destruction of property was most wanton.
1
Bomba II, was the nickname given to his son Francis II. for bombarding Palermo in 1860. He was also called Bombali’no (Little Bomba).
2
Another meaning equally applicable is Vox et prœter’ea nihil, Bomba being the explosion made by puffing out the cheeks, and causing them suddenly to collapse. Liar, break-promise, worthless.
