bombast etymology

Etymology:

The word "bombast" is derived from the Late Latin word "bombax," meaning "cotton." Cotton was used as stuffing for garments in the 16th century, and the term "bombast" was applied to clothing that was excessively padded or inflated.

Meaning:

Bombast refers to writing or speech that is exaggerated, pompous, or inflated beyond its substance. It is characterized by grandiloquent language, overblown metaphors, and a lack of genuine content.

Origin:

The term "bombast" was first used in English in the early 16th century to describe clothing that was excessively stuffed with cotton. By the mid-16th century, it had taken on its figurative meaning.

Examples of Bombast:

• "His speech was a torrent of bombast, filled with empty platitudes and grandiose promises."
• "The writer's prose is so full of bombast that it obscures the real meaning of the text."
• "The political candidate's campaign promises were pure bombast, designed to appeal to voters' emotions rather than their intellect."

Overall, "bombast" is a term used to describe writing or speech that is characterized by exaggerated language, hollow content, and a lack of genuine substance.

bombast relate terms

• bombastic

  Etymology The word bombastic comes from the Latin phrase bombus et stridor meaning

• bombast

  Etymology The word bombast is derived from the Late Latin word bombax meaning cott

• bombazine

  Etymology of bombazine Old French bombazeine From Low German bumbasin Ultimately

• bombast

  Etymology The word bombast is derived from the Late Latin word bombax meaning cott

• bombast

  Etymology The word bombast is derived from the Late Latin word bombax meaning cott

• bombyx

  Etymology The term bombyx comes from the Ancient Greek word bómbyx βόμβυξ w

• bombast

  Etymology The word bombast is derived from the Late Latin word bombax meaning cott

• fustian

  Etymology Middle English fustiane Old French futaine Vulgar Latin fustanea from fustis

• rant

  Etymology The word rant originated from the Middle English word raunten meaning to

• rhetoric

  Etymology The word rhetoric comes from the Greek word rhētorikē derived from rhē

• dilemma

  Etymology From Latin dilemma from Greek dílēmma meaning double proposition or

• facetious

  Etymology Latin facetus humorous witty merry French facétieux facetious

• switch

  Etymology The word switch has multiple etymological origins Dutch zwitsen meanin

• myriad

  Etymology The word myriad comes from the Latin word myrias which in turn derives fr

• stamina

  Etymology and Meaning The word stamina comes from the Latin word stamina meaning war