bandy

1 of 3

verb

ban·​dy ˈban-dē 

bandied; bandying

transitive verb

1

a

: to discuss lightly or banteringly

Names of potential running mates have been bandied about.

b

: exchange

bandy compliments

especially : to exchange (words) argumentatively

c

: to toss from side to side or pass about from one to another often in a careless or inappropriate manner

A gun is not a toy to be bandied about.

d

: to use in a glib or offhand manner

—often used with about

bandy these statistics about with considerable bravado

—Richard Pollak

2

: to bat (something, such as a tennis ball) to and fro

3

archaic : to band together

intransitive verb

1

obsolete : contend

2

archaic : unite

bandy

2 of 3

noun

sports : a game similar to hockey and believed to be its prototype

bandy

3 of 3

adjective

1

of legs : bowed

2

: bowlegged

… stood beyond the bandy table …

—Dylan Thomas

bandy-legged

ˈban-dē-ˌlegd  ˌban-dē-ˈle-gəd 

-ˈlā-

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• agitate
• argue
• bat (around or back and forth)
• canvass
• canvas
• debate
• discuss
• dispute
• hash (over or out)
• moot
• talk over

Examples of bandy in a Sentence

Verb

bandied around the idea of going out to dinner for their anniversary

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Aukerman, now with a much brasher energy, starts needling Mantzoukas, who bandies jokes back across the net. —Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

Purpose—a buzzword that gets bandied around like candy at a party. —Goro Gupta, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Noun

So naturally, Duchess Kate, who played field hockey while attending school, had to give the sport a try during her first official visit to Sweden, picking up bandy sticks during a stop in Stockholm with Prince William on Tuesday. —Maeve McDermott, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2018

The flask was brought in a bandy portfolj, a briefcase that traditionally contains a flask of warm wine or coffee laced with alcohol. —Simon Perry, PEOPLE.com, 30 Jan. 2018

Adjective

On the first day of their official visit to Sweden, Prince William and Kate Middleton met up with their hosts (and Swedish counterparts!), Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel after a morning spent watching (and playing a bit of) bandy hockey. —Simon Perry, PEOPLE.com, 30 Jan. 2018

Just turn to Kate Middleton and Prince William, who were photographed playing a little bandy hockey on Tuesday in Stockholm, Sweden. —Peggy Truong, Cosmopolitan, 30 Jan. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably borrowed from the base of French bander "to strike (a ball with a racket), stretch or draw back (a bow, spring, etc.)," going back to Old French, "to stretch, wrap with bandages," verbal derivative of bande "strip, band entry 1"

Note: The origin of the suffix -y, -ie is unclear. The noun bandie referring to a variation of tennis is of the same date and suggests a putative Middle French bandé or bandée, but no such word is attested.

Noun

earlier, "a variety of tennis," probably noun derivative of bandy entry 1

Note: See note at bandy entry 1.

Adjective

perhaps from bandy "curved stick used in the game of bandy," apparently a sense of bandy entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

1577, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun

1673, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bandy

• bandy about
• bandy around
• bandy words

Kids Definition

bandy

1 of 2 verb

ban·​dy ˈban-dē 

bandied; bandying

1

: to exchange (words) in argument

2

: to discuss or mention in gossip or small talk

several names were bandied about

bandy

2 of 2 adjective

: curved especially outward

bandy legs

Medical Definition

bandy

adjective

ban·​dy ˈban-dē 

1

of legs : bowed outward at or below the knee

2

: bowlegged