Also 8–9 buntine. [Origin uncertain: it has been conjecturally derived from BUNT v.3 to sift, bolt. The analogy of the Fr. étamine, which means both bolting-cloth and bunting, supports this derivation, although there is no evidence that bunting was ever actually used for ‘bolting-cloth.’ The fact mentioned in quot. 1836 would suggest connection with Ger. bunt, Du. bont parti-colored. (The word is not in Beawes, Lex Mercatoria Rediviva, 1752, which has always estamina, -as).] ‘An open-made worsted stuff, used for making flags’ (Ure, Dict. Arts); also in general, a flag, or flags collectively.
1742. Navy Board Letter to L. C. A., 24 Sept. (MS. in Pub. Rec. O.). The French and Spanish colours allowed his Majesty’s Ships are of bunting, whereas those used by the French and Spanish are of linen.
1755. Johnson, Bunting, the stuff of which a ship’s colours are made.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Buntine, a thin woollen stuff, of which the colours and signals of a ship are usually formed.
1832. Marryat, N. Forster, xxxvi. Up goes her bunting.
1836. Scenes Commerce by Land & S., 235. Buntine is a thin open sort of woollen stuff, very pliable, though strong; it is woven in stripes, blue, white, red, &c.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., viii. (1879), 161. A net made of bunting.
1871. Pitman, Phonogr., 7. Bunting, streaming from the masthead.
