bun

Where does the word "bun" come from? It comes from Old French bugne, passing through Middle English before entering English (1700s).

Bun’s story begins in Old French: bugne meant “swelling.” A swelling or lump, the likeliest source; French 'beignet', fritter, may be related. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as bunne. A small sweet roll; the word's origin remains uncertain. It reached English by 1700s as bun. 'hot cross buns' are recorded as a Good Friday custom by 1733; the hair 'bun' dates from the 1890s. Today, bun means a small soft round bread roll, often sweet; hair coiled at the back of the head.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval bugne "swelling", a swelling or lump, the likeliest source; French 'beignet', fritter, may be related.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1300s bunne "small cake", a small sweet roll; the word's origin remains uncertain.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s bun "roll; coil of hair", 'hot cross buns' are recorded as a Good Friday custom by 1733; the hair 'bun' dates from the 1890s.