Bunting

n. [Scot. buntlin, corn-buntlin, perhaps from Ger. bunt, variegated, motley, because it is covered with a great many small black spots, resembling the grains of millet. Cf. Ger. buntdrossel, a red-wing.] (Ornith.) A bird of different species, of the genus Emberiza.

☞ The common or corn-bunting is E. miliaria; the seed-bunting, E. schoeniculus; the snow-bunting, Plectrophanes nivalis; the black-throated bunting of America, E. Americana.—Rice-bunting, see BOBOLINK.

[Probably from Ger. bunt, variegated, streaked, of different colors.] A thin woolen stuff, of which the colors or flags and signals of ships are made.