c.1250, "generosity," from O.Fr.
bonte "goodness," from L.
bonitatem (nom.
bonitas) "goodness," from
bonus "good."
Bounteous is from c.1374;
bountiful is from 1508. Sense of "gift bestowed by a sovereign or the state" led to extended senses of "gratuity to a military recruit" (1702) and "reward for killing or taking a criminal" (1764).
"I do ... promise, that there shall be paid ... the following several and respective premiums and Bounties for the prisoners and Scalps of the Enemy Indians that shall be taken or killed ...." ["Papers of the Governor of Pennsylvania," 1764]
[boun-tee] 
ti
