bunko

n.

[Sf. Sp. banco bank, banca a sort of game at cards. Cf. Bank (in the commercial sense).]
A kind of swindling game or scheme, originally by means of cards or by a sham lottery, but now used for any swindling tactic. [Written also bunco.]

Bun·ko
v. t.

[imp. & p. p. Bunkoed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bunkoing.]
To swindle by a bunko game or scheme; to cheat or victimize in any similar way, as by a confidence game, passing a bad check, etc.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Bunko steerer, a person employed as a decoy in bunko. [Slang, U.S.]

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IN BRIEF: n. - A swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property.

Tutor's tip: A "bunco" or "bunko" is a swindle, while "buncombe" or "bunkum" is insincere or untrue talk.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property
  Synonyms: bunco, bunco game, bunko game, con, confidence trick, confidence game, con game, gyp, hustle, sting, flimflam

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bunko