bunko

American  

[buhng-koh] / ˈbʌŋ koʊ /

Or bunco

noun

plural

bunkos

1. a swindle in which a person is cheated at gambling, persuaded to buy a nonexistent, unsalable, or worthless object, or otherwise victimized.

2. any misrepresentation.

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verb (used with object)

bunkoed, bunkoing

1. to victimize by a bunko.

bunko British  

/ ˈbʌŋkəʊ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of bunco

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Etymology

Origin of bunko

1880–85; shortened form of bunkum; cf. -o

Example Sentences

Neighbors knew her from the monthly gathering of women who rotated between homes for games of the dice game bunko.

From Time • Dec. 17, 2012

Originally a Victorian parlor game, bunco made its way to the U.S. in the mid-1850s as a gambling game known first as "banco" and later as "bunco" or "bunko."

From Time Magazine Archive

Johnny sniffs the scent of a bunko artist at work as soon as the good little girl donates .all her cash to a mission house.

From Time Magazine Archive

Caan, a perennially baffled ex-con, basically plays straight man to Boyle as a bunko artist-bandleader and Lasser as the band leader's addled spouse, both of whom are amiably funny throughout.

From Time Magazine Archive

He tries to tell me that this minin' business is all a bunko game, and that there's a paper out for the boss.

From Torchy by Brehm, George