bandy

[ ban-dee ]

/ ˈbæn di /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bandy ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ban·died, ban·dy·ing.

to pass from one to another or back and forth; give and take; trade; exchange: to bandy blows; to bandy words.

to throw or strike to and fro or from side to side, as a ball in tennis.

to circulate freely: to bandy gossip.

adjective

(of legs) having a bend or crook outward; bowed: a new method for correcting bandy legs.

noun, plural ban·dies.

an early form of tennis.

Chiefly British. (formerly) hockey or shinny.

Obsolete. a hockey or shinny stick.

Nearby words

bandung, bandura, bandurria, bandwagon, bandwidth, bandy, bandy legs, bandy-bandy, bandy-legged, bandywallop, bane

Origin of bandy

1570–80; perhaps < Spanish bandear to conduct, bandy, orig. help, serve as member of a band of men. See band¹

SYNONYMS FOR bandy

1 reciprocate, interchange, swap, barter.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bandy ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsban·di·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bandied

The term “reform” is bandied about by many, but few have submitted any viable, concrete proposals.
Up to Speed: All You Need to Know About the Thai Coup|Lennox Samuels|May 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The definition of “substantial burden” has been bandied about for years by courts, with very different results.
How Anti-Gay Will Mississippi’s ‘New’ Religious Freedom Bill Be?|Jay Michaelson|March 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Newspapers howled, Congress investigated, and the “I” word, impeachment, was bandied about.
The Taxonomy of Scandals: Is Obama Nearing a Breaking Point?|Lloyd Green|May 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But no one went through with the arson threats that were bandied about back then, says Cummins.
Cleveland Wants to Burn Down Ariel Castro’s House. Should It Be?|Christine Pelisek|May 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Fewer than 24 hours before voting begins, confusion reigns and contradictory information is bandied about.
Could Hugo Chávez Really Lose Venezuela’s Election?|Boris Muñoz|October 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In 1885 I attended them for the last time, and bandied quips with a famous special correspondent.
A Civil Servant in Burma|Herbert Thirkel White
He knew I was not a shuttlecock, to be bandied about at pleasure.
The Chronicles of Crime or The New Newgate Calendar. v. 2/2|Camden Pelham
The horrible thing was that her name had already been bandied about from a ruffian's lips.
Judith of Blue Lake Ranch|Jackson Gregory
The child, who was but seven years of age, was bandied to and fro like a shuttlecock between rival adventurers.
A Short History of Scotland|Andrew Lang
And then again, how could the love of a girl like Clara Desmond be bandied to and fro at the will of any suitor or suitors?
Castle Richmond|Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for bandied

bandy

/ (ˈbændɪ) /

adjective -dier or -diest

Also: bandy-legged having legs curved outwards at the knees

(of legs) curved outwards at the knees

knock someone bandy Australian informal to amaze or astound

verb -dies, -dying or -died (tr)

to exchange (words) in a heated or hostile manner

to give and receive (blows)

(often foll by about) to circulate (a name, rumour, etc)

to throw or strike to and fro; toss about

noun plural -dies

an early form of hockey, often played on ice

a stick, curved at one end, used in the game of bandy

an old form of tennis

Word Origin for bandy

C16: probably from Old French bander to hit the ball back and forth at tennis

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for bandied

bandy

1570s, "to strike back and forth," from Middle French bander, from root of band (n.2). The sense apparently evolved from "join together to oppose," to opposition itself, to "exchanging blows," then metaphorically, to volleying in tennis. Bandy (n.) was a 17c. Irish game, precursor of field hockey, played with curved a stick (also called a bandy), hence bandy-legged (1680s).

bandy