bounce English · revision 10463

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=before 1225}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /baʊns/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English bunsen, to beat, thump, of uncertain origin,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) perhaps from Dutch bonzen, to thump, or Low German bunsen, or of imitative origin;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) its sense has probably been influenced by [[bound]], to leap.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To beat or thump: probably before 1225, in a version of the ''Ancrene Riwle''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the early 16th century the word was applied to loud explosive noise, blustering and bounding like a ball.^(Hoad 1986) The sense to bound like a ball is from 1519 (the 1510s),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the noun, a leap, from 1523.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) A loud blow or explosion is an obsolete noun sense.^(OED 1989) In the 17th century bounce meant to talk big, to bluster,^(Etymonline) and a boastful falsehood or impudence is from 1714.^(OED 1989) The transitive sense, to cause to rebound, is from 1876,^(Etymonline) and to throw someone out, colloquial American, from 1876.^(OED 1989) Of a cheque returned for lack of funds it is from 1927,^(Etymonline) and a buoyant rhythm from 1937.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1225 – to thump.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1519 – to bound.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1523 – a leap (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1714 – a boast.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1876 – to expel.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1927 – of a cheque.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To spring back after hitting a surface; to [[rebound]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To cause a ball or object to rebound.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To move or jump energetically; to bound.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a cheque, to be returned for lack of funds.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' To throw someone out forcibly; to eject.^(AHD)

+ # To recover quickly from a setback.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A rebound or springing movement.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Liveliness; spirit.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bounceable]]

+ * [[bounceably]]

+ * [[bounceback]]

+ * [[bouncer]]

+ * [[bouncing]]

+ * [[bouncy]]

+ * [[bouncing Bet]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bound]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}