bandy

[ ban-dee ]

verb (used with object)

, ban·died, ban·dy·ing.

1. to pass from one to another or back and forth; give and take; trade; exchange:

   to bandy blows; to bandy words.

   Synonyms: barter, swap, interchange, reciprocate

2. to throw or strike to and fro or from side to side, as a ball in tennis.
3. to circulate freely:

   to bandy gossip.

adjective

1. (of legs) having a bend or crook outward; bowed:

   a new method for correcting bandy legs.

noun

, plural ban·dies.

1. an early form of tennis.
2. Chiefly British. (formerly) hockey or shinny.
3. Obsolete. a hockey or shinny stick.

bandy

/ ˈbændɪ /

adjective

1. Alsobandy-legged having legs curved outwards at the knees
2. (of legs) curved outwards at the knees
3. knock someone bandy informal.
   to amaze or astound

verb

1. to exchange (words) in a heated or hostile manner
2. to give and receive (blows)
3. often foll by about to circulate (a name, rumour, etc)
4. to throw or strike to and fro; toss about

noun

1. an early form of hockey, often played on ice
2. a stick, curved at one end, used in the game of bandy
3. an old form of tennis

Other Words From

• bandi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bandy¹

1570–80; perhaps < Spanish bandear to conduct, bandy, originally help, serve as member of a band of men. See band ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bandy¹

C16: probably from Old French bander to hit the ball back and forth at tennis

Example Sentences

I’m staggered at the stupidity of people who bandy around dangerous words without having looked them up in the dictionary.

From Los Angeles Times

The pivot is also reflected in the bills being bandied about that are aimed at shaping the future of crypto regulation in the United States.

From Salon

The idea of a follow-up to the hit film has long been bandied about, with scripts commissioned for “Beetlejuice in Love” and “Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian.”

From Los Angeles Times

I have written before about the ways religion is bandied about for political advantage by people whose own religious faith is ludicrously insincere.

From Salon

He did not respond to a direct question about how much it cost, but said the amounts being "bandied around are ridiculous".

From BBC