BUNT

I. noun Etymology: perhaps from Low German, bundle, from Middle Low German; akin to Old English byndel bundle Date: circa 1582 1. the middle part of a square sail, the part of a furled sail gathered up in a bunch at the center of the yard, the bagging part of a fishing net, II. verb Etymology: alteration of butt Date: 1584 transitive verb to strike or push with or as if with the head ; butt , to push or tap (a baseball) lightly with a bat without swinging, intransitive verb to ~ a baseball, ~er noun III. noun Date: 1767 an act or instance of ~ing, a ~ed ball, IV. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: circa 1790 a destructive covered smut of wheat caused by a fungus (genus Tilletia )