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  1. bunkum love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. Empty or insincere talk; claptrap.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. See buncombe.

Wiktionary

  1. n. slang senseless talk; nonsense; a piece of nonsense (countable)
  2. n. any bombastic political posturing or an oratorical display not accompanied by conviction; speechmaking designed for show or public applause.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. See buncombe.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. unacceptable behavior (especially ludicrously false statements)

Etymologies

  1. 1830s, from buncombe, from “speaking to Buncombe” (or “for Buncombe”) from Buncombe County, North Carolina, named for Edward Buncombe. (Wiktionary)
  2. After Buncombe, a county of western North Carolina, from a remark made around 1820 by its congressman, who felt obligated to give a dull speech "for Buncombe”. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

  • “This whole “new way” line of bunkum is all smoke and mirrors.”

    Linkspasm – June 5, 2008 « PurpleSlog – Awesomeness & Modesty Meets Sexy

  • “But in recent days the government has stepped up its defense of the plans, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Tuesday describing criticism of the tax as "bunkum" and "balderdash.”

    The Wall Street Journal: Canberra Doesn't Retreat on Profits Tax

  • “Queen's College, under "old Jack's" rule; and, having kept up the acquisition, I found it now of considerable use, for, it caused me to be sent about much more than might otherwise have been the case -- to report the speeches of prominent public men, whether they were "stumping the provinces" throughout the Union, or basking in the blazing "bunkum" of the capital at Washington.”

    She and I, Volume 2 A Love Story. A Life History.

  • “Now, however, upon the repeated expression of fears from Lyons that this might be more than mere "bunkum," Russell began to instruct”

    Great Britain and the American Civil War

  • “It will suffice to state that ninety-seven were relegated to the "bunkum" pocket, and seven retained as conveying intelligent orders worthy of consideration.”

    On the Heels of De Wet

  • “It is superfluous to mention that the whole of the messages sent by the local intelligence departments and by the De Wet expert were dismissed as "bunkum," often without perusal.”

    On the Heels of De Wet

  • “If any one were to ask him how people are to live within their means when they've not got any, he would reply with the word "bunkum" and clinch the argument with a grunt.”

    War-time Silhouettes

  • “At some seminary or other a master wrote "bunkum" on an essay, and the student couldn't make the letters out -- thought it was a Latin word "luckum.”

    Plays by Anton Chekhov, Second Series

  • “To the petulant outbreaks on this question of the professors of "bunkum" which some of the latest accounts tell us have not been wanting, even in the comparatively sedate discussions of the Senate, we attached little weight, for we believed they were no longer in accordance with the feeling of the”

    Prospects of the Year

  • “Mr. Seward has talked some nonsense of the "bunkum" kind about the seizure of Canada, but this he will now, being in a responsible position, be inclined speedily to forget, and we shall be happy to imitate him.”

    London, Saturday, January 26, 1861.

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Lists

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Comments

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  • arby VARIANT FORMS: also buncombe
    NOUN: Empty or insincere talk; claptrap.
    ETYMOLOGY: After Buncombe, a county of western North Carolina, from a remark made around 1820 by its congressman, who felt obligated to give a dull speech “for Buncombe�?. May 4, 2007

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‘bunkum’ has been looked up 2591 times, loved by 5 people, added to 30 lists, commented on 1 time, and has a Scrabble score of 14.