Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. An open flatbottom boat with squared ends, used in shallow waters and usually propelled by a long pole.
- v. To propel (a boat) with a pole.
- v. To carry in a punt.
- v. To go in a punt.
- n. A kick in which the ball is dropped from the hands and kicked before it touches the ground.
- v. To propel (a ball) by means of a punt.
- v. To execute a punt.
- v. Informal To cease doing something; give up: Let's punt on this and try something else.
- v. Games To lay a bet against the bank, as in roulette.
- v. Chiefly British Slang To gamble.
- n. The indentation in the bottom of a champagne or wine bottle.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A flat-bottomed, square-ended, mastless boat of varying size and use. The smaller punts are used in fishing, and by sportsmen in shooting wild fowl; larger ones are often used as ferry-boats across shallow streams, and still larger ones are used as lighters and scows.
- n. [⟨ punt, verb, 3.] In foot-ball, a kick of the ball as it is dropped from the hands and before it strikes the ground.
- To convey in a punt: as, he was punted across tho river.
- To propel as a punt is usually propelled, by pushing with a pole against the bed of the water; force along by pushing: as, to punt a boat.
- In fool-ball, to kick, as the ball, when it is dropped from the hands, and before it touches the ground; give a punt to.
- In general, to knock; hit.
- To hunt for aquatic game in a punt and with a punt-gun (which see).
- n. A point in the game of basset.
- To play at basset or ombre.
- n. Same as punty, pontil.
- n. A push or shove.
- n. In glass manufacturing Same as milen.
Wiktionary
- n. A pontoon; a narrow shallow boat propelled by a pole.
- n. A kick made by a player who drops the ball and kicks it before it hits the ground. Contrast drop kick.
- n. A point in the game of faro.
- n. A bet or wager
- n. An indentation in the base of a wine bottle.
- n. A thin glass rod which is temporarily attached to a larger piece in order to better manipulate the larger piece.
- n. bridge (construction)
- v. To propel a punt or similar craft by means of a pole.
- v. To kick a ball dropped from the hands before it hits the ground.
- v. To retreat from one's objective.
- v. To stake against the bank, to back a horse, to gamble or take a chance more generally
- v. To make a highly speculative investment or other commitment, or take a wild guess.
GNU Webster's 1913
- v. To play at basset, baccara, faro. or omber; to gamble.
- n. Act of playing at basset, baccara, faro, etc.
- n. A flat-bottomed boat with square ends. It is adapted for use in shallow waters.
- v. To propel, as a boat in shallow water, by pushing with a pole against the bottom; to push or propel (anything) with exertion.
- v. To kick (the ball) before it touches the ground, when let fall from the hands.
- n. The act of punting the ball.
- v. To boat or hunt in a punt.
- v. To punt a football.
WordNet 3.0
- v. propel with a pole
- v. place a bet on
- n. formerly the basic unit of money in Ireland; equal to 100 pence
- n. an open flat-bottomed boat used in shallow waters and propelled by a long pole
- v. kick the ball
- n. (football) a kick in which the football is dropped from the hands and kicked before it touches the ground
Etymologies
- Probably Middle English *punt, from Old English punt, from Latin pontō, pontoon, flatbottom boat, from pōns, pont-, bridge; see pent- in Indo-European roots.Perhaps from dialectal punt, to strike, push, perhaps alteration of bunt.French ponter, from obsolete pont, past participle of pondre, to put (obsolete), to lay an egg, from Old French, to lay an egg, from Latin pōnere; see apo- in Indo-European roots.Perhaps from punty, iron rod used in glass blowing, probably from French pontil, from pointe, point, from Old French; see point.
Examples
“I used the term punt in my heading, which is strange, I never use that terminology.”
“Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who has said a punt is the most important play in football, agreed the mistake on the punt was pivotal.”
“Tressel, who frequently says he believes the punt is the most important play in football, takes an ultraconservative approach with Ohio State's offense.”
“We always say that the punt is the most important play in football and it worked twice for us today," Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel said.”
“He averaged a league-best 18.5 yards a catch (minimum 40 receptions) and led the NFL in punt returns with a 15. 2-yard mark.”
NFL salaries: Top NFL QBs could be in line for contract hikes
“Tony Logan has returned two punts for touchdowns and has Maryland ranked first nationally in punt returns.”
The Washington Post: Poll: After seven games, who is your Maryland team MVP?
“Kansas City ranked among the NFL's worst in punt-return average (6.5 yards) and kickoff returns (21.5 yards).”
Rebuilding process in Kansas City begins with Cassel at helm
“He has five punt returns for touchdowns, and is third among active players in punt-return yards (2,501).”
Brief record-breaking tenure wins top honor for Devin Hester
“So motivated, he finished his rookie regular season leading the league in punt-return yards (600), tied for the lead with punt-return touchdowns (three) and kickoff-return touchdowns (two).”
Brief record-breaking tenure wins top honor for Devin Hester
“On a third-and-2 play, Manning was sacked for the only time, by Tim Dobbins, back at the 1, forcing Hunter Smith to punt from the end zone.”
Somber Colts again searching for answers, facing long winter
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘punt’.

reesetee The hollow at the bottom of a wine bottle--also called a kick Feb 23, 2007