Definition of bunkum

The word "bunkum" originated in the United States during the early 19th century and is often used to describe something as useless, fake, or nonsense. Its origin is somewhat obscure, but it is believed to have emerged from a speech given by U.S. Senator Felix Walker of North Carolina in 1823. During a session of the U.S. Senate, Walker was proposing a bill to provide funding for the distribution of Bibles to public schools, an idea that was heavily opposed by his fellow lawmakers. To defend his proposal, Walker delivered a long-winded and convoluted speech that left his audience bewildered and skeptical. One of the senators, Robert Taft of Kentucky, reportedly quipped after the speech, "Well, that's about as much sense as two guys carrying a load trying to lift it and then sliding a third man under." Another senator, George Atlanta, supposedly retorted with the phrase "All that bunkum!" - a perceived rendition of the phrase "blah, blah, bunkum." The term "bunkum" was then adopted and popularized by the American press, who used it to describe any nonsense or insubstantial propaganda, as it became commonly associated with Walker's nonsensical speech. While the accuracy of this story cannot be fully substantiated, it is widely accepted as the most plausible explanation behind the origin of the word "bunkum."