punt

[ puhnt ]

See synonyms for punt on Thesaurus.com

noun

Football. a kick in which the ball is dropped and then kicked before it touches the ground.: Compare drop kick, place kick.
a small, shallow boat having a flat bottom and square ends, usually used for short outings on rivers or lakes and propelled by poling.

Glassmaking. kick (def. 23b).

verb (used with object)

Football. to kick (a dropped ball) before it touches the ground.
to propel (a small boat) by thrusting against the bottom of a lake or stream, especially with a pole.

to convey in or as if in a punt.

verb (used without object)

to punt a football.
to propel a boat by thrusting a pole against the bottom of a river, stream, or lake.

to travel or have an outing in a punt.
Informal. to equivocate or delay: If they ask you for exact sales figures, you'll have to punt.

Origin of punt

First recorded before 1000; 1835–45 for def. 1; Old English: “flat-bottomed boat” (not attested in Middle English ), from Latin pontō “pontoon, punt” (see pontoon¹); the sense “to kick a dropped ball” comes perhaps via the semse “to propel (a boat) by shoving”

Other words from punt

punter, noun

Words Nearby punt

Other definitions for punt (2 of 5)

punt²

[ puhnt ]

verb (used without object)

Cards. to lay a stake against the bank, as at faro.
Slang. to gamble, especially to bet on horse races or other sporting events.

noun

Cards. a person who lays a stake against the bank.

Origin of punt

First recorded in 1705–15; from French ponter, derivative of ponte “punter; point in faro,” from Spanish punto; see origin at point

Other words from punt

punter, noun

Other definitions for punt (3 of 5)

punt³

[ poont, puhnt ]

noun

a monetary unit of the Republic of Ireland until the euro was adopted, equal to 100 pence; Irish pound.

Origin of punt

First recorded in 1970–75; from Irish, from English pound²

Other definitions for punt (4 of 5)

punt⁴

[ puhnt ]

noun

kick (def. 23b).

Origin of punt

⁴

First recorded in1820–25; probably shortening of punty

Other definitions for Punt (5 of 5)

Punt

[ poont ]

noun

an ancient Egyptian name of an area not absolutely identified but believed to be Somaliland.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use punt in a sentence

His critics complained that too often, it meant run, run, pass on third down and either move the chains or punt.
Marty Schottenheimer’s legacy can be measured in teams’ regret over letting him go | Leonard Shapiro | February 9, 2021 | Washington Post
The Bucs got the ball at their 30 following a 27-yard punt by the Chiefs’ Tommy Townsend.
Super Bowl highlights: Bucs celebrate championship, Tom Brady wins MVP | Des Bieler, Mark Maske, Chuck Culpepper | February 8, 2021 | Washington Post
The Heisman Trophy winner caught 105 passes for 1,641 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, and he also scored a touchdown on a punt return.
Here’s how Ohio State upsets Alabama and wins the national title | Neil Greenberg | January 11, 2021 | Washington Post
This time, the Browns got the ball back on a Steelers punt, rather than a turnover, but the result was eventually the same.
Browns shake off their history, secure first playoff win since 1995 | Adam Kilgore, Des Bieler | January 11, 2021 | Washington Post
Rivera said he is sticking with punt returner Steven Sims — who has fumbled punts in the past two games — saying he was watching Sims catch live punts on the fields outside his window while on the teleconference.
Alex Smith, Terry McLaurin are questionable vs. Bucs, but Ron Rivera appears unfazed | Les Carpenter | January 7, 2021 | Washington Post

“Cunt punt” earned her mentions on The Daily Show, and a place in the Urban Dictionary.
Rebecca Martinson, the Viral Sorority Girl Letter Writer: How to Go From Unknown to Infamous in 60 Seconds | Tricia Romano | April 26, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
punt Return Brings 49ers Closer How did San Francisco score so much in such little time, you ask?
15 Best Moments of the 2013 Super Bowl (VIDEO) | Ben Teitelbaum | February 4, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
If you thought Lucy was going to get into the Thanksgiving spirit and finally let Charlie Brown punt that football, think again.
‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Roseanne’ & More Classic Thanksgiving Episodes (VIDEO) | Shannon Donnelly, The Daily Beast Video | November 22, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
For you, Saturn trining Neptune is a wake-up call to document ideas, first, and then punt them out into the universe.
The Stars Predict Your Week | Starsky + Cox | October 29, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
And yet when confronted with a bona fide epidemic in its southern desert, Arizona has chosen to punt.
Arizona's Immigrant Death Spiral | Bryan Curtis | July 28, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Looking round the long table he saw the Comte de Lussigny sitting in the punt.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke
He knew she was quite capable of handling the punt, even in the rapids, so he merely growled his acquiescence.
Ruth Fielding At College | Alice B. Emerson
Twas irresistible––to be accomplished with the fool of Twist Tickle and his clever punt.
The Cruise of the Shining Light | Norman Duncan
Twas by him reported that a maid of gentle breeding had come alone in a punt to Topmast in the night.
The Cruise of the Shining Light | Norman Duncan
He says he is determined to learn to row, and to swim, and to punt, and to fish.
Littlebourne Lock | F. Bayford Harrison

British Dictionary definitions for punt (1 of 4)

punt¹

/ (pʌnt) /

noun

an open flat-bottomed boat with square ends, propelled by a pole: See quant 1

verb

to propel (a boat, esp a punt) by pushing with a pole on the bottom of a river, etc

Origin of punt

Old English punt shallow boat, from Latin pontō punt, pontoon 1

British Dictionary definitions for punt (2 of 4)

punt²

/ (pʌnt) /

noun

a kick in certain sports, such as rugby, in which the ball is released and kicked before it hits the ground
any long high kick

verb

to kick (a ball, etc) using a punt

Origin of punt

C19: perhaps a variant of English dialect bunt to push, perhaps a nasalized variant of butt ³

British Dictionary definitions for punt (3 of 4)

punt³

/ (pʌnt) mainly British /

verb

(intr) to gamble; bet

noun

a gamble or bet, esp against the bank, as in roulette, or on horses
Also called: punter a person who bets

take a punt at Australian and NZ informal to have an attempt or try at (something)

Origin of punt

C18: from French ponter to punt, from ponte bet laid against the banker, from Spanish punto point, from Latin punctum

British Dictionary definitions for punt (4 of 4)

punt⁴

/ (pʊnt) /

noun

(formerly) the Irish pound

Origin of punt

⁴

Irish Gaelic: pound

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

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