bunco
UK[ˈbʌŋkəʊ]US[ˈbʌŋkoʊ]
n
a swindling game or scheme; a confidence trick.
v
to swindle or cheat someone.
Etymology
the word 'bunco' entered american english in the late 19th century, specifically referring to a swindling card game. its origins are obscure but it is generally believed to be an alteration of the spanish word 'banca', meaning 'bank' in the context of a gambling game. the semantic shift from a gambling term to a general term for a swindle or con game reflects its association with fraudulent gambling practices. its journey from a specific game name to a verb meaning 'to cheat' exemplifies a common pattern where the name of a deceptive activity becomes a generic term for deception.
Analysis
this word is a loanword of uncertain segmentation. it functions as a simplex unit in english.
Examples
the tourists were wary of falling for a street bunco.
he was arrested for buncoing elderly investors out of their savings.
the elaborate bunco scheme involved fake oil wells and forged documents.