bunker
UK: ˈbʌŋkə | US: ˈbʌŋkər
n. 1. A reinforced underground shelter, especially for military use.
n. 2. A hazard (such as a sand trap) on a golf course.
vt. 3. To store fuel in a bunker (e.g., coal bunker).
bunker = bunk<bench/storage> + er<noun suffix>
- bunk<bench/storage>: From Scots bunk (meaning "bench" or "sleeping shelf"), possibly from Old Norse bunki (heap, pile).
- er<noun suffix>: A common English suffix denoting a place or object associated with a function.
Etymology Origin:
The word "bunker" originated in 18th-century Scots, referring to a bench or storage space, likely influenced by Old Norse bunki (a heap). By the 19th century, it evolved to mean a coal storage area on ships, then expanded to military shelters (early 20th century) due to their reinforced, storage-like structures. The golf sense (sand trap) emerged by analogy to an obstacle storing lost balls.
Soldiers took cover in the bunker during the air raid.
His golf ball landed in the bunker, adding a stroke to his score.
The ship’s bunker was filled with coal for the long voyage.
They decided to bunker extra supplies before the storm hit.
The museum preserved a WWII-era bunker as a historical exhibit.