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bombast

 - 7 dictionary results

bom⋅bast

[bom-bast]
–noun
1. speech too pompous for an occasion; pretentious words.
2. Obsolete. cotton or other material used to stuff garments; padding.
–adjective
3. Obsolete. bombastic.

Origin:
1560–70; earlier bombace padding < MF < ML bombācem, acc. of bombāx; see bombax family
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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bom·bast   (bŏm'bāst')   
n.  Grandiloquent, pompous speech or writing.

[Alteration of obsolete bombace, cotton padding, from Old French, from Medieval Latin bombax, bombac-, cotton; see bombazine.]
bom'bast'er n., bom·bas'tic adj., bom·bas'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Main Entry:  bombast1
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  inflated language or speech
Etymology:  Old French bombace 'cotton wadding'
Main Entry:  bombast1
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to inflate one's speech
Etymology:  Old French bombace 'cotton wadding'
Main Entry:  bombast2
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  stuffing or padding, esp. of cotton
Etymology:  Old French bombace 'cotton wadding'
Main Entry:  bombast2
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to stuff or pad
Etymology:  Old French bombace 'cotton wadding'
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Copyright © 2003-2010 Dictionary.com, LLC
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Word Origin & History

bombast  (n.)
1568, "cotton padding," from O.Fr. bombace, from M.L. bambacem, acc. of bambax "cotton," from Gk. pambax, from Persian pambak "cotton." From stuffing and padding for clothes or upholstery, meaning extended to "pompous, empty speech" (1589).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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