bandy
[ban-dee]
- 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.
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- (of legs) having a bend or crook outward; bowed: a new method for correcting bandy legs.
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- an early form of tennis.
- Chiefly British. (formerly) hockey or shinny.
- Obsolete. a hockey or shinny stick.
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Origin of bandy
1570–80; perhaps < Spanish bandear to conduct, bandy, orig. help, serve as member of a band of men. See band1
Synonyms
See more synonyms for bandy on Thesaurus.com1. reciprocate, interchange, swap, barter.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for bandied
Contemporary Examples
The term “reform” is bandied about by many, but few have submitted any viable, concrete proposals.
The definition of “substantial burden” has been bandied about for years by courts, with very different results.
Newspapers howled, Congress investigated, and the “I” word, impeachment, was bandied about.
But no one went through with the arson threats that were bandied about back then, says Cummins.
Fewer than 24 hours before voting begins, confusion reigns and contradictory information is bandied about.
Historical Examples
All the secrets and signs were bandied about and laughed at among the boys.
In School and OutOliver Optic
They are quarrelling about the qualification, and angry words were bandied about.
The Greville Memoirs (Second Part)Charles C. F. Greville
He bandied epithets with some of his hearers who interrupted him.
Recriminations were bandied between the noblesse and the Tiers tat.
The Story of ParisThomas Okey
So the gospel and its Founder were bandied from tongue to tongue as a theme for unholy mirth.
Amos HuntingdonT.P. Wilson
bandy
- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for bandied
bandy
v.
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).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper