bung

¹

[buhng]

noun

1. a stopper for the opening of a cask.

2. a bunghole.

verb (used with object)

1. to close with or as if with a bung; cork; plug (often followed byup ).

bung

²

[buhng]

adjective

Australian.

1. out of order; unusable; broken.

2. bankrupt.

3. Slang.,  dead.

bung

³

[buhng]

verb (used with object)

1. to beat; bruise; maul (often followed byup ).

2. British Slang.,  to throw or shove carelessly or violently; sling.

bung

¹

/ bʌŋ /

noun

1. a stopper, esp of cork or rubber, for a cask, piece of laboratory glassware, etc

2. short for bunghole

verb

1. (often foll by up) to close or seal with or as with a bung

   the car's exhaust was bunged up with mud

2. slang,  to throw; sling

bung

²

/ bʌŋ /

adjective

1. useless

2. 1. to fail or collapse

   2. to die

bung

³

/ bʌŋ /

noun

1. a gratuity; tip

2. a bribe

verb

1. (tr) to behave in a pretentious manner

Word History and Origins

Origin of bung¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bunge “bung, bunghole,” from Middle Dutch bong(h)e “stopper”

Origin of bung²

First recorded in 1840–50; perhaps from Waga (an Australian Aboriginal language spoken around Kingaroy, southern Queensland) bongī “dead”

Origin of bung³

First recorded in 1815–25; originally Scots variant of bang ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bung¹

C15: from Middle Dutch bonghe , from Late Latin puncta _puncture

Origin of bung²

C19: from a native Australian language

Origin of bung³

C16 (originally in the sense: a purse): perhaps from Old English pung , changed over time through the influence of _bung ¹

Example Sentences

“Because the underlying ecosystem is so bunged up that I don’t see an alternative.”

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It says Mr Hunt made a bold choice to reward work "rather than offer yet more bungs to pensioners", many of whom are natural Conservative voters.

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His critics and opponents will say this is nothing more than a cynical election bung.

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Their house now has a "bung", which blocks it off from the main sewer network.

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In his witness statement to the inquiry, Mr Cummings said he overheard Mr Johnson telling a senior official he wanted to "bung money" to long-time ally Lord Evgeny Lebedev, owner of the Evening Standard.

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Related Words

• dangle 
• fling 
• heave 
• hoist 
• hurl 
• lob