Part 867

Bunch"y (&?;), a. 1. Swelling out in bunches.

An unshapen, bunchy spear, with bark unpiled. Phaer.

2. Growing in bunches, or resembling a bunch; having tufts; as, the bird's bunchy tail.

3. (Mining) Yielding irregularly; sometimes rich, sometimes poor; as, a bunchy mine. Page.

{ Bun"combe, Bun"kum } (&?;), n. [Buncombe a county of North Carolina.] Speech-making for the gratification of constituents, or to gain public applause; flattering talk for a selfish purpose; anything said for mere show. [Cant or Slang, U.S.]

All that flourish about right of search was bunkum -- all that brag about hanging your Canada sheriff was bunkum . . . slavery speeches are all bunkum. Haliburton.

To speak for Buncombe, to speak for mere show, or popularly.

"The phrase originated near the close of the debate on the famous ‘Missouri Question,' in the 16th Congress. It was then used by Felix Walker -- a naïve old mountaineer, who resided at Waynesville, in Haywood, the most western country of North Carolina, near the border of the adjacent county of Buncombe, which formed part of his district. The old man rose to speak, while the house was impatiently calling for the ‘Question,' and several members gathered round him, begging him to desist. He preserved, however, for a while, declaring that the people of his district expected it, and that he was bound to ‘make a speech for Buncombe.'" W. Darlington.

||Bund (&?;), n. [G.] League; confederacy; esp. the confederation of German states.

||Bund (&?;), n. [Hindi band.] An embankment against inundation. [India] S. Wells Williams.

||Bun"der (&?;), n. [Pers. bandar a landing place, pier.] A boat or raft used in the East Indies in the landing of passengers and goods.

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||Bun"des*rath` (bn"ds*rät`), n. [G., from bund (akin to E. bond) confederacy + rath council, prob. akin to E. read.] The federal council of the German Empire. In the Bundesrath and the Reichstag are vested the legislative functions. The federal council of Switzerland is also so called.

The Bundesrath of the German empire is presided over by a chancellor, and is composed of sixty-two members, who represent the different states of the empire, being appointed for each session by their respective governments.

By this united congress, the highest tribunal of Switzerland, -- the Bundesrath -- is chosen, and the head of this is a president. J. P. Peters (Trans. Müller's Pol. Hist.).

Bun"dle (bn"d'l), n. [OE. bundel, AS. byndel; akin to D. bondel, bundel, G. bündel, dim. of bund bundle, fr. the root of E. bind. See Bind.] A number of things bound together, as by a cord or envelope, into a mass or package convenient for handling or conveyance; a loose package; a roll; as, a bundle of straw or of paper; a bundle of old clothes.

The fable of the rods, which, when united in a bundle, no strength could bend. Goldsmith.

Bundle pillar (Arch.), a column or pier, with others of small dimensions attached to it. Weale.

Bun"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bundled (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Bundling (&?;).] 1. To tie or bind in a bundle or roll.

2. To send off abruptly or without ceremony.

They unmercifully bundled me and my gallant second into our own hackney coach. T. Hook.

To bundle off, to send off in a hurry, or without ceremony. -- To bundle one's self up, to wrap one's self up warmly or cumbrously.

Bun"dle, v. i. 1. To prepare for departure; to set off in a hurry or without ceremony.

2. To sleep on the same bed without undressing; -- applied to the custom of a man and woman, especially lovers, thus sleeping. Bartlett.

Van Corlear stopped occasionally in the villages to eat pumpkin pies, dance at country frolics, and bundle with the Yankee lasses. W. Irving.

Bung (&?;), n. [Cf. W. bwng orfice, bunghole, Ir. buinne tap, spout, OGael. buine.] 1. The large stopper of the orifice in the bilge of a cask.

2. The orifice in the bilge of a cask through which it is filled; bunghole.

3. A sharper or pickpocket. [Obs. & Low]