punt

noun10

1. •
   A kick made by a player who drops the ball and kicks it before it hits the ground.
2. •
   A bet or wager.

   • Anyone up for a punt on Randwick?
3. •
   A highly speculative investment or other commitment.

   • “Months ago, copper traders worldwide took a punt that Trump's tariff pitch for their market was real, not bluster.[…]” — 2025
4. •
   A narrow shallow boat, square at both ends, traditionally propelled by a pole.
5. •
   (Australia) Gambling, as a pastime, especially betting on horseraces or the dogs.

   • Did I actually back a winner and finish in front on the punt? — 1995
6. •
   A wild guess.
7. •
   The indentation in the base of a wine bottle.
8. •
   A thin glass rod which is temporarily attached to a larger piece in order to better manipulate the larger piece.
9. •
   (no longer used) The act of playing basset, baccarat, faro, etc.
10. •
    (no longer used) A point in the game of faro.

verb12

1. •
   To dropkick; to kick something a considerable distance.

   • At the dump he emptied the station wagon quickly and only once punted a bag of refuse, exploding it like a pinata at a Mexican Christmas. — 1975
2. •
   To kick a ball dropped from the hands before it hits the ground. (This puts the ball farther from the goal across which the opposing team is attempting to score, so improves the chances of the team punting.)
3. •
   To kick a bouncing ball far and high.

   • With five minutes remaining Hennessey was down well to block another Vukcevic shot, while Gunter was smartly in to punt away the dangerous loose ball. — 2011
4. •
   (informal) To equivocate and delay or put off (answering a question, addressing an issue, etc).

   • The federal government has punted bringing forward extraordinary immigration powers that just weeks ago it was saying were so urgent they needed to be rushed through the parliament. — 2024
5. •
   To play basset, baccara, faro, etc.
6. •
   (UK, Australia) To stake against the bank, to back a horse, to gamble or take a chance more generally

   • She heard […] of his punting at gaming tables. — 1854
7. •
   (figurative) To make a highly speculative investment or other commitment, or take a wild guess.
8. •
   To propel a punt or similar craft by means of a pole.
9. •
   To retreat from one's objective; to abandon an effort one still notionally supports.

   • Punting: Using svn revert¶ If you decide that you want to throw out your changes and start your edits again (whether this occurs after a conflict or anytime), just revert your changes — 2002
10. •
    (informal) To eject; to kick out of a place.

    • The user is punted from the channel, and must rejoin to gain access. — 2001
11. •
    (informal) To make the best choice from a set of non-ideal alternatives.
12. •
    Of a fish, to walk along the seafloor using its fins as limbs.

noun1

1. •
   The Irish pound, used as the unit of currency of Ireland until it was replaced by the euro in 2002.

noun1

1. •
   (historical) A former kingdom in the Horn of Africa, Africa, on the southern shore of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. A country contemporaneous with the Old Kingdom of Egypt, where frankincense, gold, ebony, ivory is found.