DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
18.117.231.160

Search for:
[Show options]
[Pronunciation] [Help] [Database Info] [Server Info]

3 definitions found

From: DICT.TW English-Chinese Dictionary 英漢字典

 bun·combe /ˈbʌŋkəm/
 討人歡心的演說,廢話,空談

From: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

 Bun·combe, Bun·kum  n.  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.
 Note:“The phrase originated near the close of the debate on the famousMissouri 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 theQuestion,' and several members gathered round him, begging him to desist.  He persevered, however, for a while, declaring that the people of his district expected it, and that he was bound tomake a speech for Buncombe.'”
 

From: WordNet (r) 2.0

 buncombe
      n : unacceptable behavior (especially ludicrously false
          statements) [syn: bunk, bunkum, guff, rot, hogwash]