bung
UK[bʌŋ]US[bʌŋ]
n
A stopper, especially for the hole in a barrel, cask, or other container.
v
To close or seal with a stopper.
v
(British, informal) To put or throw something somewhere carelessly or clumsily.
Etymology
The word 'bung' entered English in the late medieval period from Middle Dutch, reflecting the significant trade and linguistic exchange in Northern Europe. The Dutch term 'bonghe' referred specifically to a stopper for a cask, a crucial item in the storage and transport of liquids like wine and beer. While its deeper origins are obscure, the short, blunt sound of the word may be imitative of the action of plugging a hole. From this concrete, physical object, the verb senses naturally developed, extending to the act of sealing with a bung and, informally in British English, to the careless act of putting or throwing something.
Analysis
This word is a simplex. It is a loanword from Middle Dutch, where 'bonghe' meant a stopper or bung. Its ultimate origin is uncertain but may be onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of a plug being inserted.
Examples
He tapped the keg and hammered the bung into place.
Remember to bung the bottle tightly after use.
He just bunged his clothes into the suitcase and rushed out.