Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, plural punts, present participle punting, past tense, past participle puntedpronunciation note: Pronounced (pʌnt) for meanings [sense 1], , [sense 2] and , [sense 4], and (pʊnt) for meaning [sense 3].
1. countable noun
A punt is a long boat with a flat bottom. You move the boat along by standing at one end and pushing a long pole against the bottom of the river.
[mainly British]
2. verb
When you punt, you travel along a river in a punt.
[mainly British]
We punted up towards Grantchester and had a picnic in a meadow. [VERB preposition/adverb]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: bet, back, stake, gamble More Synonyms of punt
puntinguncountable noun
The one thing I look forward to is going punting in Cambridge.
3. countable noun [num NOUN]
The punt was the unit of money used in the Irish Republic. In 2002 it was replaced by the euro.
He bought a plot of land for 50 punts, the Irish currency back then.
The punt was also used to refer to the Irish currency system.
...the cost of defending the punt against speculators.
4. countable noun
In rugby and American football, a punt is a kick where you drop the ball and then kick it before it reaches the ground, so that it goes a long way.
He caught a punt and scored the winning touchdown, with a minute left to play.
...a 66-yard punt return
Punt is also a verb.
The referee told him to punt or kick the ball off the ground. [VERB noun]
The Redskins punted. Dallas then marched 79 yards to seal the victory. [VERB]
More Synonyms of punt
punt in British English1
(pʌnt)
noun
1.
an open flat-bottomed boat with square ends, propelled by a pole
quant1
verb
2.
to propel (a boat, esp a punt) by pushing with a pole on the bottom of a river, etc
Word origin
Old English punt shallow boat, from Latin pontō punt, pontoon1
punt in British English2
(pʌnt)
noun
1.
a kick in certain sports, such as rugby, in which the ball is released and kicked before it hits the ground
2.
any long high kick
verb
3.
to kick (a ball, etc) using a punt
Word origin
C19: perhaps a variant of English dialect bunt to push, perhaps a nasalized variant of butt3
punt in British English3
(pʌnt) mainly British
verb
1. (intransitive)
to gamble; bet
noun
2.
a gamble or bet, esp against the bank, as in roulette, or on horses
3. Also called: punter
a person who bets
4. take a punt at
Word origin
C18: from French ponter to punt, from ponte bet laid against the banker, from Spanish punto point, from Latin punctum
punt in British English4
(pʊnt)
noun
(formerly) the Irish pound
Word origin
Irish Gaelic: pound
punt in American English1
(pʌnt)
verb intransitive
1.
in certain card games, to bet against the banker
2. British
to gamble; bet
Word origin
Fr ponter < ponte, point < Sp punto < L punctum, a point
punt in American English2
(pʌnt)
noun
1. American Football
a kick in which the ball is dropped and kicked before it hits the ground
verb transitive, verb intransitive
2.
to kick (a football) in this way
Word origin
< slang of Rugby School, England: ? form of dial. bunt, to strike, kick: see bunt1
punt in American English3
(pʌnt)
noun
1.
a flat-bottomed boat with broad, square ends, usually pushed along by a long pole
verb transitive
2.
to propel (a boat) by pushing with a pole against the bottom of a shallow river or lake
3.
to carry in a punt
verb intransitive
4.
to go in a punt
Word origin
OE < L ponto, punt (in LL, pontoon)
punt in American English4
(pʊnt)
noun
the former basic monetary unit of Ireland, superseded in 2002 by the euro