bunting

[ buhn-ting ]

/ ˈbʌn tɪŋ /

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See synonyms for: bunting / buntings on Thesaurus.com

noun

a coarse, open fabric of worsted or cotton for flags, signals, etc.

patriotic and festive decorations made from such cloth, or from paper, usually in the form of draperies, wide streamers, etc., in the colors of the national flag.

flags, especially a vessel's flags, collectively.

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Origin of bunting

First recorded in 1735–45; origin uncertain; perhaps originally “cloth for sifting,” hence the verb bunt “to sift,” from Middle English bonten + -ing¹

Words nearby bunting

Bunsen, Bunsen burner, Bunsen's solubility coefficient, bunt, buntal, bunting, buntline, bunton, bunt order, Buñuel, buñuelo

Other definitions for bunting (2 of 3)

bunting²

[ buhn-ting ]

/ ˈbʌn tɪŋ /

noun

any of several small, chiefly seed-eating birds of the genera Emberiza, Passerina, and Plectrophenax.

Compare indigo bunting, reed bunting, snow bunting.

Origin of bunting

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bunting, bounting, buntyle; further origin unknown

Other definitions for bunting (3 of 3)

bunting³

[ buhn-ting ]

/ ˈbʌn tɪŋ /

noun

a hooded sleeping garment for infants.

Also called sleeper .

Origin of bunting

First recorded in 1920–25; special use of bunting¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bunting in a sentence

There were three stories’ worth of alcoves with red bunting and signs proclaiming each display’s country of origin, spread out over 92,000 square meters of gleaming glass enclosures—the Crystal Palace, as one satirical magazine dubbed it.
The metaverse is a new word for an old idea|Genevieve Bell|February 8, 2022|MIT Technology Review
Songbirds like cardinals and buntings secure spots in dense foliage, while woodpeckers hang on to the downwind side of tree trunks or take cover inside cavities.
Sky Fall: Meet the Storm Chasers|Sohini Das Gupta|September 19, 2021|Ozy
Even bunting has become harder for a pitcher in recent years.
MLB pitchers were already bad hitters. Modern velocity has made them even worse.|Neil Greenberg|April 22, 2021|Washington Post
As the bunting populations began to drop, the government outlawed hunting them.
Around the world, birds are in crisis|Alison Pearce Stevens|December 3, 2020|Science News For Students

One study of yellow-breasted buntings in China found that this once-abundant species is rapidly disappearing.
Around the world, birds are in crisis|Alison Pearce Stevens|December 3, 2020|Science News For Students
She was even sweet to that smug ingrate Miss Bunting after she kept insulting everyone at dinner.
‘Downton Abbey’ Review: A Fire, Some Sex, and Sad, Sad Edith|Kevin Fallon|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Black and purple bunting went up over the doorway at the 84th Precinct stationhouse where Ramos and Liu had been assigned.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The big placard advertising the show was now trimmed with red-white-and-blue bunting: ANIMALS IN SPACE!
Life Imitates Patriots: Inaugural Version|David Frum|January 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Or at least, we wouldn't celebrate it with two weeks of bunting.
Meet the Real Founding Fathers: The Shocking Truth About Washington, Madison, and Martin|Kevin Bleyer|August 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Shops are covered in Union Jacks, bunting has sold out, and everyone loves an excuse to bake patriotic cookies.
The Queen’s Jubilee Takes Some Explaining, so The Daily Beast Walks You Through It|Tom Sykes|May 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Every rag of bunting, from the tiny streamer of the fishing-boat to the great flag of ships of war, droops against the mast.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo
He would let Bunting travel light to the Rio Seco, and then load him for her as no burro ever was loaded to cross the border!
The Treasure Trail|Marah Ellis Ryan
But Chappo waved him onward, for the wagon and the pack mules, and even little gray Bunting had turned reluctant feet north.
The Treasure Trail|Marah Ellis Ryan
It isn't just colors and bunting—The red and the blue and the white.
With the Colors|Everard Jack Appleton
As he walked along he noticed that the street was gay with bunting.
Tom Slade with the Colors|Percy K. Fitzhugh

British Dictionary definitions for bunting (1 of 3)

bunting¹

/ (ˈbʌntɪŋ) /

noun

a coarse, loosely woven cotton fabric used for flags, etc

decorative flags, pennants, and streamers

flags collectively, esp those of a boat

Word Origin for bunting

C18: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for bunting (2 of 3)

bunting²

/ (ˈbʌntɪŋ) /

noun

any of numerous seed-eating songbirds of the families Fringillidae (finches, etc) or Emberizidae, esp those of the genera Emberiza of the Old World and Passerina of North America. They all have short stout bills

Word Origin for bunting

C13: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for bunting (3 of 3)

Bunting

/ (ˈbʌntɪŋ) /

noun

Basil . 1900–85, British poet, author of Briggflatts (1966)

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

bunting

Origin of bunting

Words nearby bunting

Other definitions for bunting (2 of 3)

Origin of bunting

Other definitions for bunting (3 of 3)

Origin of bunting

Words related to bunting

How to use bunting in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bunting (1 of 3)

Word Origin for bunting

British Dictionary definitions for bunting (2 of 3)

Word Origin for bunting

British Dictionary definitions for bunting (3 of 3)