[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 favorable notice of the electors), and the like. b. Political speaking or action not from conviction, but in order to gain the favor of electors, or make a show of patriotism, or zeal; political clap-trap.
a. 1856. S. G. Goodrich, Recoll., I. 101 (Bartlett). The cawing of congresses of crows, clamorous as if talking to Buncombe.
1857. N.-York Daily Tribune, 2 March, 4/5. (Bartlett). The House [of Representatives] broke down … upon the Corruption Committee’s bill…. Having first passed it for Buncombe, [etc.].
1859. N. York Herald, 7 March, 4/2. The new House Pension bill … was another bid for buncombe.
1863. W. Phillips, Speeches, ix. 234. They sometimes talked for Buncombe.
b. 1850. Times, 24 Jan., 4/3. A vast display of 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. O. 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 March, 299. Did it [the Volunteer movement] signify business or ‘bunkum?’
1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 8 Sept., 11/2. The philosopher is tempted to talk a good deal of what we may call scientific ‘buncombe.’
1884. Congregationalist, June, 456. The 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., 5/2. 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, or the quality of being, ‘bunkum.’
1850. Miners’ Express, 13 March, 1/3. Can the bombastic pretensions of ‘bunkumite’ demagogues have attained sufficient importance to silence the thunders, or misguide the lightning shafts of this potent guardian of republican liberty?
1864. Morning Star, 13 Sept. Dispel the mist raised by the petty breath of journalistic bunkumites.
1871. Daily News, 15 March, 6/1. He either gammons you [an ‘interviewer’] intentionally, buncomises, or is reticent.
