bunting

¹

[buhn-ting]

noun

1. a coarse, open fabric of worsted or cotton for flags, signals, etc.

2. patriotic and festive decorations made from such cloth, or from paper, usually in the form of draperies, wide streamers, etc., in the colors of the national flag.

3. flags, especially a vessel's flags, collectively.

bunting

²

[buhn-ting]

noun

1. any of several small, chiefly seed-eating birds of the genera Emberiza, Passerina, and Plectrophenax.

bunting

³

[buhn-ting]

noun

1. a hooded sleeping garment for infants.

bunting

¹

/ ˈbʌntɪŋ /

noun

1. a coarse, loosely woven cotton fabric used for flags, etc

2. decorative flags, pennants, and streamers

3. flags collectively, esp those of a boat

Bunting

²

/ ˈbʌntɪŋ /

noun

1. Basil . 1900–85, British poet, author of Briggflatts (1966)

bunting

³

/ ˈbʌntɪŋ /

noun

1. any of numerous seed-eating songbirds of the families Fringillidae (finches, etc) or Emberizidae , esp those of the genera Emberiza of the Old World and Passerina of North America. They all have short stout bills

Word History and Origins

Origin of bunting¹

First recorded in 1735–45; origin uncertain; perhaps originally “cloth for sifting,” hence the verb bunt “to sift,” from Middle English bonten + -ing ¹

Origin of bunting²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bunting, bounting, buntyle; further origin unknown

Origin of bunting³

First recorded in 1920–25; special use of bunting ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bunting¹

C18: of unknown origin

Origin of bunting²

C13: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

The only thing worse than a grasping and nakedly calculating politician is a politician who wraps his grasping and naked calculation in all sorts of red, white and blue bunting.

From Los Angeles Times

It has also provided the inspiration behind the pink displays and bunting that have been dotted around the town.

From BBC

No 10 might have been hanging out the bunting, preparing to celebrate a year in office.

From BBC

Army, but actually held in his own honor — at which there was no John Phillips Sousa, no red white and blue bunting and, worst of all, no adoring crowds.

From Salon

Each home has been decked in flags, banners and red bunting since it became clear Liverpool were going to emerge as Premier League champions for the second time in five years.

From BBC

Related Words

• streamer