bunker
UK[ˈbʌŋkə(r)]US[ˈbʌŋkər]
n
A large container or compartment for storing fuel, especially on a ship or at a power station.
n
An underground shelter, especially one built with reinforced concrete to protect against bombs or shells.
n
A hollow filled with sand, used as an obstacle on a golf course.
v
To hit a golf ball into a bunker.
v
To hide or store something in a secure place, especially fuel.
Etymology
The word 'bunker' has a maritime and defensive journey into modern English. It originated in the 16th century from Scots, where it meant a bench or chest, possibly influenced by Old Norse 'bunki' meaning a heap. This sense of a storage container evolved specifically to denote a ship's coal storage compartment by the mid-19th century. The military meaning of a reinforced underground shelter emerged during World War I, drawing a logical parallel to a secure, contained space. Finally, its adoption into golf in the 20th century reflects its core concept of a pit or hollow, completing its semantic shift from a simple seat to specialized terms in energy, defense, and sport.
Analysis
The word 'bunker' is a simplex loanword. It entered English as a whole unit from Scots, where it originally meant a seat or bench, likely derived from a Scandinavian source (e.g., Old Swedish 'bunke' meaning a heap or mound). Its functional role in English is as a complete noun or verb stem.
Examples
The ship took on coal, filling its bunkers for the long voyage.
During the air raid, the family sought safety in the concrete bunker.
His approach shot landed in the greenside bunker, making par difficult.