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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

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

There will always be those hardiest of Caddyshack souls prepared to battle 40mph winds and driving rain, bunting their ball down muddy fairways and putting across soaked greens.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

Mid Sussex scouts chief volunteer, Mark Schofield, said bunting had been put up to celebrate his visit.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

Santa Margarita’s Brody Schumaker, who had eight bunt singles last season, will be asked by his father, Skip, the new manager of the Texas Rangers, to show off his bunting skills at spring training.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2025

“We go crazy for Christmas, we go crazy for the Fourth of July. We probably have 50 flags and bunting all over the place.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 26, 2025

Next came two automobiles wearing bunting for Pipal’s Garage and Service Station.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Related Words

• streamer