bonfire

[bon-fahy^uhr]

noun

1. a large fire built in the open air, for warmth, entertainment, or celebration, to burn leaves, garbage, etc., or as a signal.

2. any fire built in the open.

bonfire

/ ˈbɒnˌfaɪə /

noun

1. a large outdoor fire

Word History and Origins

Origin of bonfire¹

1375–1425; late Middle English bone fire, i.e., a fire with bones for fuel

Word History and Origins

Origin of bonfire¹

C15: alteration (through influence of French bon good) of bone-fire ; from the use of bones as fuel

Example Sentences

He visually compares Man-soo’s wife’s head to the shovel that will be used to help dispose of victims, and the family’s house is superimposed over a bonfire, implying what’s at stake.

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Mom’s anguished childbirth moaning segues to those of young women nearby having their babies ripped from their arms and thrown into a bonfire.

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Some people have built bonfires to keep warm.

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He said there were "lots of ideas of how it first started" but looking back through history, "most of it was to do with 1605 when bonfires and effigies were burnt and barrels were plentiful".

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"There's always been bonfires up here but it was a good idea bring it into one area and make it a community event," he said.

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Related Words

• conflagration