bombast
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈbɒmbæst/
  • (GA) IPA: /ˈbɑmbæst/
Noun

bombast

  1. (archaic) cotton#Noun|Cotton, or cotton wool.
    • 1725, [Noël] Chomel, “SURBATING ↗”, in R[ichard] Bradley, editor, Dictionaire Oeconomique: Or, The Family Dictionary. […], in Two Volumes, […], volume II (I–Z), London: Printed for D. Midwinter, […], OCLC 991191027 ↗, column 2:
      SURBATING; a Diſtemper in a Horſe, who is ſaid to be ſurbated, when the Sole is worn, bruiſed or ſpoiled by travelling without Shoes, or with ill ſhoeing: […] take Frankincenſe, and rolling it in a little fine Cotton Wool or Bombaſt, with a hot Iron melt it into the Foot betwixt the Shoe and the Toe, until the Orifice, where the Blood was taken away, is fill'd up; {{...}
  2. (archaic) Cotton, or any soft, fibrous material, used as stuffing#Noun|stuffing for garments; stuffing, padding#Noun|padding.
    • 1583 May 1, Phillip Stubbes [i.e., Philip Stubbs], The Anatomie of Abuses: Contayning a Discouerie, or Briefe Summarie of such Notable Vices and Imperfections, as now Raigne in Many Christian Countreyes of the Worlde: But (especiallie) in a Verie Famous Ilande called Ailgna: Together, with Most Fearefull Examples of Gods Iudgementes, Executed vpon the Wicked for the Same, aswell in Ailgna of late, as in Other Places, elsewhere. Verie Godly, to be Read of All True Christians, euerie where: But Most Needefull, to be Regarded in Englande. Made Dialogue-wise, by Phillip Stubbes. Seene and Allowed, according to Order, London: Printed at London by [John Kingston for] Richard Iones, OCLC 837710014; 3rd edition, London: Printed at London, by Richard Iones, [dwellyng at the signe of the Rose and the Crowne, neere vnto Holborne Bridge], 1585, OCLC 837957584, folio 23, recto and verso ↗:
      [C]ertayne I am there was neuer any kinde of apparell euer inuented, that could more diſproportion the body of man, then theſe Dublettes with great bellies hanging downe beneath their Pudenda, (as I haue ſayd) & ſtuffed with foure, fiue, or ſixe pound of Bombaſt at the least: […]
  3. (figuratively) High-sounding words; language above the dignity of the occasion#Noun|occasion; a pompous or ostentatious manner of writing or speaking.
Synonyms Verb

bombast (bombasts, present participle bombasting; past and past participle bombasted)

  1. To swell#Verb|swell or fill out; to inflate, to pad#Verb|pad.
  2. To use high-sounding words; to speak or write in a pompous or ostentatious manner.
Adjective

bombast

  1. Big without meaning, or high-sounding; bombastic, inflated#Adjective|inflated; magniloquent.
    • 1668, Abraham Cowley, “Ode. Of Wit.”, in The Works of Mr. Abraham Cowley. Consisting of Those which were Formerly Printed: And Those which He Design'd for the Press, Now Published out of the Authors Original Copies, London: Printed by J[ohn] M[acock] for Henry Herringman, at the sign of the Blew Anchor in the lower walk of the New Exchange, OCLC 875071647; 5th edition, London: Printed by J[ohn] M[acock] for Henry Herringman, at the sign of the Blue Anchor in the lower walk of the New Exchange, 1678, OCLC 960099431, stanza 7, page 3 ↗:
      'Tis not ſuch Lines as almoſt crack the Stage. / When Bajazet begins to rage. / Nor a tall Met'phor in the Bombaſt way, / Nor the dry chips of ſhort-lung'd Seneca.
Synonyms


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