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bonfire

 - 3 dictionary results

bon⋅fire

[bon-fahyuhr]
–noun
1. a large fire built in the open air, for warmth, entertainment, or celebration, to burn leaves, garbage, etc., or as a signal.
2. any fire built in the open.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME bone fire, i.e., a fire with bones for fuel
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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bon·fire   (bŏn'fīr')   
n.  A large fire built outdoors, as for signaling or in celebration of an event.

[Middle English bonnefire : bon, bone; see bone + fir, fire; see fire.]
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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Word Origin & History

bonfire 
1556, from M.E. banefire (1483), originally a fire in which bones were burned. Johnson mistakenly derived it from Fr. bon "good."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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