Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4–5 bonch, 5 bunche, 5–6 bounch(e, 5– bunch. [Etymology obscure: perh. onomatopæic; cf. BOUNCE v. and PUNCH v., both which are closely parallel in sense to this word. The Du. bonken to beat, thrash, has been compared, but relationship between it and the Eng. word is very doubtful.]
a. trans. To strike, thump; to bruise flax, etc., by beating it.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 71. He bonchede [v.r. bunched] hem with his Breuet.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 55. Bunchon’, tundo.
1496. Dives & Paup. (W. de W.), I. iii. 34/2. Men … bounche or knocke theyr brestis.
1577. Harrison, England, I. II. vi. (1877), 147. A fall … might peradventure bunch or batter it.
1601. Cornwallyes, Seneca (1631), 74. I will reele, and bunch hempe.
1671. Charente, Let. Customs Mauritania, 49. These golden Apples, especially the biggest, bunched in several places with the blows of Musket bullets.
1840. Spurdens, Suppl. Voc. E. Anglia (E. D. S.), Bunch, to beat hemp.
1877. Peacock, N. W. Lincoln. Gloss. (E. D. S.), Cauves bunch their mother’s bags as soon as they can stan’.
b. To kick. (Yorksh., Lincolnsh., etc.)
1647. Depos. York Cast., 10, in Peacock, N. W. Lincoln. Gloss. (E. D. S.). He actually saw him bunching an old man.
1665. R. Sellar, in Abstr. Quakers’ Sufferings, iii. (1738), 176. They bunched me with their Feet that I fell backwards into a Tub.
1825. Gentl. Mag., XCI. I. 397.
1864. Atkinson, Whitby Gloss., He bunch’d me.
Hence Bunchclot, a farmer; a clodhopper.
1877. Holderness Gloss. (E. D. S.).
