Bonfire

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bonfire \Bon"fire`\, n. [OE. bonefire, banefire, orig. a fire of
     bones; bone + fire; but cf. also Prov. E. bun a dry stalk.]
     A large fire built in the open air, as an expression of
     public joy and exultation, or for amusement.
     [1913 Webster]
  


           Full soon by bonfire and by bell,
           We learnt our liege was passing well.    --Gay.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  bonfire
       n : a large outdoor fire [syn: {balefire}]