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• bunting
  bunting

  noun

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

  noun

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

bunting

¹ American  

[buhn-ting] / ˈbʌn tɪŋ /

noun

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

2. 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.

3. flags, especially a vessel's flags, collectively.

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bunting ² American  

[buhn-ting] / ˈbʌn tɪŋ /

noun

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

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bunting ³ American  

[buhn-ting] / ˈbʌn tɪŋ /

noun

1. a hooded sleeping garment for infants.

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bunting ¹ British  

/ ˈbʌntɪŋ /

noun

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

2. decorative flags, pennants, and streamers

3. flags collectively, esp those of a boat

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Bunting ² British  

/ ˈbʌntɪŋ /

noun

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

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bunting ³ British  

/ ˈbʌntɪŋ /

noun

1. 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

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Etymology

Origin of bunting¹

First recorded in 1735–45; origin uncertain; perhaps originally “cloth for sifting,” hence the verb bunt “to sift,” from Middle English bonten + -ing ¹

Origin of bunting²

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

Origin of bunting³

First recorded in 1920–25; special use of bunting ¹

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Explanation

Bunting is a type of loosely woven fabric with a specific purpose: making flags. When you salute a flag, you're saluting bunting. Who knew? Bunting is known for two main features: it is loosely woven, and it is used primarily in making flags. Bunting is strong enough to last, but versatile enough to be perfect in making the intricate designs many flags feature. Before it becomes a flag, bunting makes for splendid decoration when hung or draped festively. Bunting is also a synonym for flag.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bunting Bunting

Since bunting has practically become a taboo, however, adept bunters fit comfortably in the Rays’ budget, which ranks 27th among MLB’s 30 franchises.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

So when they see the Rays bunting with purpose, they malfunction.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

In Havana's leafy middle-class Vedado neighborhood, pints at a dollar a pop were flowing at a watch party in a cultural center festooned with a Brazil flag and World Cup bunting.

From Barron's ● Jun. 14, 2026

Lisa Nandy, the Labour culture secretary, is speaking from her Wigan constituency which was proudly festooned with bunting during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

But he briefly gets caught in the portrait of President Washington and misjudges the thickness of the bunting decorating the front of the box.

From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly

Searle goes on to play Josh Rock, who won the last three legs to edge out Stephen Bunting 6-5.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Bunting won a superb quarter-final 6-3 against Clayton as both players averaged in excess of 100.

From BBC ● May 21, 2026

Humphries, who was in his third successive night final, overcame the Welshman 6-4 after an impressive 6-0 win over Stephen Bunting and 6-3 comeback win over Luke Littler.

From BBC ● May 14, 2026

Bunting means willingly giving up one of your 27 outs, the most precious resource that exists in the game.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

“It was Miss Bunting and myself whom they wanted. I was able to escape, but Miss Bunting was not so fortunate.”

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

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