Bungtown

noun

Bung·​town

ˈbəŋ-ˌtau̇n

variants or bungtown or Bungtown copper or bungtown copper or Bungtown token or bungtown token

plural Bungtowns or bungtowns or Bungtown coppers or bungtown coppers or Bungtown tokens or bungtown tokens

: a copper token resembling an English halfpenny that circulated in the U.S. in the 18th and 19th centuries

Word History

Etymology

probably from Bungtown (now Barneysville), Rehoboth, Massachusetts, where it was manufactured

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!