bunting1
/ˈbʌntɪŋ
/noun
1An Old World seed-eating songbird related to the finches, typically having brown streaked plumage and a boldly marked head.
- Family Emberizidae, subfamily Emberizinae (the bunting family and subfamily): several genera, in particular Emberiza, and numerous species.
- In winter, our resident population is increased by large numbers of birds from the Continent, forming flocks on farmland, often with other finches, buntings and sparrows.
- In winter, found also in fields and even gardens, feeding with other buntings and finches.
2A small New World songbird of the cardinal subfamily, the male of which is mainly or partly bright blue in colour.
- Family Emberizidae, subfamily Cardinalinae: genera Passerina and Cyanocompsa, and several species.
- A few lucky people from in our area find indigo buntings - small, very bright blue birds that are not numerous in our area - are regular visitors at their feeders.
- Payne and Payne found no evidence that indigo buntings had an inherited tendency to disperse, but migratory direction seems to be innate for juveniles.
Origin
Middle English: of unknown origin.
bunting2
/ˈbʌntɪŋ/noun [mass noun]
1Flags and other colourful festive decorations.Club colours and banners bristled from every corner as bunting and flags adorned the spectators and the ground alike....
- He thanked all those who had decorated their premises with flags and bunting, and had a special word of praise for the residents of McHale Road for entering into the spirit of the parade.
- It would be greatly appreciated if businesses would support in decorating their premises with flags, bunting or whatever they wish to add to the atmosphere.
1.1A loosely woven fabric used to make bunting.To the accompaniment of much laughter and fun, many yards of bunting were made from pieces of left-over fabric and torn sheeting....
- When I was a kid in the mid-1940s, can't remember the exact date but it was the year I had measles, we put up brightly-printed linen bunting for our street party in celebration of VE day.
- On festive occasions the streets fluttered with red, white, and blue bunting, the colours of the tricolour flag adopted by the French Nation in 1789.
Origin
Early 18th century: of unknown origin.
bunting3
/ˈbʌntɪŋ/(also bunting bag)
noun North American
A hooded sleeping bag for babies.Your baby's stroller becomes like a bunting on wheels with these blankets....
- It means - it's like a baby, you know, the bunting clothes or something.
Origin
1920s: origin uncertain; perhaps from bunting2.