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.

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verb (used with object)

bunkoed, bunkoing

1. to victimize by a bunko.

bunko British  

/ ˈbʌŋkəʊ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of bunco

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Etymology

Origin of bunko

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

Example Sentences

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

Truman also said that the television report had been "fixed up by BBDO"�which he defined as "bunko, bull, deceit and obfuscation."

From Time Magazine Archive

Then an incessantly self-admiring bunko artist figured out Laura's canny fraud and threatened to expose her unless she let him become Steele, with appropriate office space and elaborate perks.

From Time Magazine Archive

He tries to tell me that this minin' business is all a bunko game, and that there's a paper out for the boss.

From Torchy by Brehm, George