bandy

1 of 3

verb

ban·​dy ˈban-dē How to pronounce bandy (audio)
bandied; bandying

transitive verb

1
a
: to discuss lightly or banteringly
Names of potential running mates have been bandied about.
b
: exchange
bandy compliments
especially : to exchange (words) argumentatively
c
: to toss from side to side or pass about from one to another often in a careless or inappropriate manner
A gun is not a toy to be bandied about.
d
: to use in a glib or offhand manner
often used with about
bandy these statistics about with considerable bravadoRichard Pollak
2
: to bat (something, such as a tennis ball) to and fro
3
archaic : to band together

intransitive verb

1
obsolete : contend
2
archaic : unite

bandy

2 of 3

noun

sports : a game similar to hockey and believed to be its prototype

bandy

3 of 3

adjective

1
of legs : bowed
2
: bowlegged
… stood beyond the bandy table …Dylan Thomas
bandy-legged adjective

Examples of bandy in a Sentence

Verb bandied around the idea of going out to dinner for their anniversary
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Purpose—a buzzword that gets bandied around like candy at a party. Goro Gupta, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 Other guesses bandied around include 112 and Big Time Rush, both of which seem possible but also just don’t really fit the clues quite as well as Boyz II Men. Marah Eakin, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
So naturally, Duchess Kate, who played field hockey while attending school, had to give the sport a try during her first official visit to Sweden, picking up bandy sticks during a stop in Stockholm with Prince William on Tuesday. Maeve McDermott, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2018 The flask was brought in a bandy portfolj, a briefcase that traditionally contains a flask of warm wine or coffee laced with alcohol. Simon Perry, PEOPLE.com, 30 Jan. 2018
Adjective
On the first day of their official visit to Sweden, Prince William and Kate Middleton met up with their hosts (and Swedish counterparts!), Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel after a morning spent watching (and playing a bit of) bandy hockey. Simon Perry, PEOPLE.com, 30 Jan. 2018 Just turn to Kate Middleton and Prince William, who were photographed playing a little bandy hockey on Tuesday in Stockholm, Sweden. Peggy Truong, Cosmopolitan, 30 Jan. 2018 See all Example Sentences for bandy 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably borrowed from the base of French bander "to strike (a ball with a racket), stretch or draw back (a bow, spring, etc.)," going back to Old French, "to stretch, wrap with bandages," verbal derivative of bande "strip, band entry 1"

Note: The origin of the suffix -y, -ie is unclear. The noun bandie referring to a variation of tennis is of the same date and suggests a putative Middle French bandé or bandée, but no such word is attested.

Noun

earlier, "a variety of tennis," probably noun derivative of bandy entry 1

Note: See note at bandy entry 1.

Adjective

perhaps from bandy "curved stick used in the game of bandy," apparently a sense of bandy entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

1577, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun

1673, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bandy was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near bandy

Cite this Entry

“Bandy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bandy. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

bandy

1 of 2 verb
ban·​dy ˈban-dē How to pronounce bandy (audio)
bandied; bandying
1
: to exchange (words) in argument
2
: to discuss or mention in gossip or small talk
several names were bandied about

bandy

2 of 2 adjective
: curved especially outward
bandy legs

Medical Definition

bandy

adjective
ban·​dy ˈban-dē How to pronounce bandy (audio)
1
of legs : bowed outward at or below the knee
2

More from Merriam-Webster on bandy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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