Also 8 bunnian, 9 bunnion, bunyan, bunyon. [Of obscure etymology; prob. connected with BUNNY1. Prof. Skeat regards it as a. It. bugnone ‘a push, a bile, a blane, a botch’ (Florio, 1598), f. bugno = OF. bugne (? whence bunny); this suits the form, but the word was until recently so rare in literary use that derivation from Italian seems very unlikely.] An inflamed swelling on the foot, esp. of the bursa mucosa at the inside of the ball of the great toe; see quot. 1878.
a. 1718. Rowe, Tonson & Congr. Warm my bunnians [footnote, Jacob’s name for his corns] at your fire.
1821. Galt, Ayrsh. Legatees, 198 (Jam.). Miss Mally had an orthodox corn, or bunyan.
1863. C. M. Smith, Dead Lock, 248. His bunions never mar his quiet pilgrimage.
1878. T. Bryant, Pract. Surg., I. 176. When from excessive pressure a bursa forms over one of the tarsal or metatarsal articulations, a bunion is said to be present.
