Bombast

(bŭm'băst, 114) (Synop., § 130), n. [L. Lat. bombax, cotton, bombasium, a doublet of cotton. Cf. BOMBAZINE.]

1Sense 1. Originally, cotton. [Obs.] “A candle with a wick of bombast.” Lupton.

2Sense 2. Cotton, or any soft, fibrous material, used as stuffing for garments; stuffing; padding. [Obs.]

Doublets, stuffed with four, five, or six pounds of bombast at least. Stubbs.

How now, my sweet creature of bombast. Shak.

3Sense 3. (Fig.) High-sounding words; an inflated style; fustian.

Yet noisy bombast carefully avoid. Dryden.