bunk

¹

[buhngk]

noun

1. a built-in platform bed, as on a ship.

2. Informal.,  any bed.

3. a cabin used for sleeping quarters, as in a summer camp; bunkhouse.

4. a trough for feeding cattle.

verb (used without object)

1. Informal.,  to occupy a bunk or any sleeping quarters.

   Joe and Bill bunked together at camp.

verb (used with object)

1. to provide with a place to sleep.

bunk

²

[buhngk]

noun

Informal.

1. humbug; nonsense.

   Synonyms: hooey, bull, applesauce, hogwash, rot, baloney

bunk

³

[buhngk]

verb (used with or without object)

1. Chiefly New York City.,  to bump.

bunk

⁴

[buhngk]

verb (used with object)

1. to absent oneself from (school, work, etc.).

   to bunk a history class.

verb (used without object)

1. to run off or away; flee.

   When they heard the distant police sirens, they dropped the bag of jewelry and silver and bunked.

bunk

¹

/ bʌŋk /

noun

1. a narrow shelflike bed fixed along a wall

2. short for bunk bed

3. informal,  any place where one sleeps

verb

1. to prepare to sleep

   he bunked down on the floor

2. (intr) to occupy a bunk or bed

3. (tr) to provide with a bunk or bed

bunk

²

/ bʌŋk /

noun

1. a hurried departure, usually under suspicious circumstances (esp in the phrase do a bunk )

verb

1. (usually foll by off) to play truant from (school, work, etc)

bunk

³

/ bʌŋk /

noun

1. informal,  short for bunkum

Word History and Origins

Origin of bunk¹

First recorded in 1750–60; back formation from bunker

Origin of bunk²

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; short for bunkum

Origin of bunk³

Perhaps expressive alteration of bump

Origin of bunk⁴

First recorded in 1865–70; perhaps special use of bunk ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bunk¹

C19: probably short for _bunker

Origin of bunk²

C19: perhaps from _bunk ¹ (in the sense: to occupy a bunk, hence a hurried departure, as on a ship)

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. do a bunk, to leave hastily, especially under suspicious circumstances; run away.

Example Sentences

Earlier this month, areas with space for around 65 detainees were holding more than 100, with cots spread across the floor between bunk beds.

From Los Angeles Times

He’s in a four-person cell and sleeps in a bunk bed.

From Los Angeles Times

For a while after arriving, Pan wandered from city to city, sleeping on borrowed couches or bunking with fellow migrants.

From BBC

He says he was bitten by bedbugs and could see mould across the ceiling from his top bunk.

From BBC

The safe house is home to at least 30 girls and young women who sleep in bunk beds in colourfully painted rooms.

From BBC

Related Words

• baloney 
• rubbish