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Where does the word "bunk" come from? It comes from American English Buncombe, passing through American English before entering English (1900).
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Where does the word "bunk" come from? It comes from American English Buncombe, passing through American English before entering English (1900).
Bunk’s story begins in American English: Buncombe meant “Buncombe County.” Felix Walker, congressman for Buncombe County, North Carolina, insisted on making a long pointless speech 'for Buncombe'. Within American English, it grew into bunkum by 1840s. Political claptrap. It reached English by 1900 as bunk. Shortened from 'bunkum'; 'debunk' was coined in 1923 by the novelist William Woodward. Today, bunk means nonsense.
- Stage 1 · American English · 1820 Buncombe "Buncombe County", Felix Walker, congressman for Buncombe County, North Carolina, insisted on making a long pointless speech 'for Buncombe'.
- Stage 2 · American English · 1840s bunkum "claptrap", political claptrap.
- Stage 3 · American English · 1900 bunk "nonsense", shortened from 'bunkum'; 'debunk' was coined in 1923 by the novelist William Woodward.