buncombe, bunkum
(bʌŋkəm)
[f. Buncombe, name of a county in N. Carolina, U.S. The use of the word originated near the close of the debate on the ‘Missouri Question’ in the 16th congress, when the member from this district rose to speak, while the house was impatiently calling for the ‘Question’. 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 to make a speech for Buncombe. (See Bartlett, Amer. Dict.)]
1. in U.S. use (see above): a. In phrases, such as, to talk or speak for or to Buncombe, to pass a measure for buncombe (i.e. to please or gull a constituency), a bid for buncombe (i.e. for the favourable notice of the electors), and the like. b. Political speaking or action not from conviction, but in order to gain the favour of electors, or make a show of patriotism, or zeal; political clap-trap.
| a. 1828 [See cantly adv.2]. 1857 S. G. Goodrich Remin. I. 101 (Bartlett), Congresses of crows, clamorous as if talking to buncombe. 1857 N. York Tribune 2 Mar. (Bartlett) The House of Representatives broke down upon the corruption committee's bill, having first passed it for buncombe. 1859 N. York Her. 12 Mar., The bill was another bid for buncombe. 1863 W. Phillips Speeches ix. 234 They sometimes talked for Buncombe. |
| b. 1850 Times 24 Jan. 4/3 Conventions, rights of independence, caucuses, agitation, and whatever else may be implied by the American expression ‘bunkum’. 1856 Sat. Rev. II. 372/1 Rather meant as a piece of bunkum for his countrymen, than as a serious exposition of policy. 1857 Kingsley Two Y. Ago xxv, Talk plain truth, and leave bunkum for right honourables who keep their places thereby. 1880 Johnson W. Lloyd Garrison & Times 245 To take some sort of action that would seem to be anti-slavery..[but] amount to little or nothing—in short, mere buncombe. |
2. Empty clap-trap oratory; ‘tall talk’; humbug.
| 1862 Sat. Rev. 15 Mar. 299 Did it [the Volunteer movement] signify business or ‘bunkum’? 1865 Pall Mall G. 8 Sept. 11/2 The philosopher is tempted to talk a good deal of what we may call scientific ‘buncombe’. 1884 Congregationalist June 456 This appeal to the ‘splendid history and the roll of saints’ is bunkum, or something worse. |
3. attrib.| 1863 Dicey Federal St. II. 317 General Butler's ‘bunkum’ proclamation. 1864 Sala in Daily Tel. 9 Aug. A most amusing deduction of bunkum logic. 1868 Temple Bar Dec. 42 A buncombe story relating to his ring. |
Hence
buncomize v., to talk ‘bunkum’;
bunkumite, one who talks ‘bunkum’.
| 1864 Morning Star 13 Sept., Dispel the mist raised by the petty breath of journalistic bunkumites. 1871 Daily News 15 Mar., He either gammons you [an ‘interviewer’] intentionally, buncomises, or is reticent. |