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Synonyms

bunko

American  
[buhng-koh] / ˈbʌŋ koʊ /
Or bunco

noun

  • bunkos
    plural
  1. a swindle in which a person is cheated at gambling, persuaded to buy a nonexistent, unsalable, or worthless object, or otherwise victimized.

  2. any misrepresentation.


verb (used with object)

bunkoed, bunkoing
  1. to victimize by a bunko.

bunko British  
/ ˈbʌŋkəʊ /

noun

  1. a variant spelling of bunco

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of bunko

1880–85; shortened form of bunkum; cf. -o

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Neighbors knew her from the monthly gathering of women who rotated between homes for games of the dice game bunko.

From Time ● Dec. 17, 2012

To date, the efforts by police bunko squads and civic associations to clean up the repair industry have resulted in licensing laws for various types of servicemen in several states.

From Time Magazine Archive

I do not know anything excepting that I have addressed several bunko parties attended by ladies exclusively.

From Time Magazine Archive

Originally a Victorian parlor game, bunco made its way to the U.S. in the mid-1850s as a gambling game known first as "banco" and later as "bunco" or "bunko."

From Time Magazine Archive

Then I don’t care to bunko anybody, and unless my arm comes back I won’t be worth the money the Feds have offered for my services.

From Lefty Locke Pitcher-Manager by Burt L. Standish

If they 15 promised that, they sure bunkoed themselves.

From In the Shadow of the Hills by George C. (George Clifford) Shedd

I hope I'm a good loser as far as the money goes, but I hate to be bunkoed.

From Fore! by Charles Emmett Van Loan

“Besides,” Burd Alling said in comment on this, “for a good cause we are all ready and willing to be bunkoed a little.”

From The Campfire Girls of Roselawn Or, a Strange Message from the Air by Margaret Penrose

"Well, I'll be bunkoed," said Uncle Ike, as he began to pull the sweater off over his head.

From Peck's Uncle Ike and The Red Headed Boy 1899 by George W. (George Wilbur) Peck

“So you’re the party who bunkoed Lefty, are you?”

From Lefty Locke Pitcher-Manager by Burt L. Standish

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