Dictionary

bonfire en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [ˈb̥ɒ̃ɱfaɛ̯ɚ] Southern US, African-American Vernacular
• [ˈbɒɱˌfaɪ̯ɚ]
• /ˈbɑnˌfaɪɚ/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈbɒnfaɪə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈbɒnfaɪəɹ/

Etymology

PIE word *péh₂wr̥ From Middle English bonnefyre (“a fire in which bones are burnt, bonfire”) [and other forms], by surface analysis, bone + fire. Replaced earlier Middle English bale-fyre, from Old English bǣlfȳr (see balefire). The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) notes that bonfires, originally lit as part of midsummer celebrations, were not generally associated with the burning of bones. However, the first edition of the OED (under the title A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 1887) stated that “for the annual midsummer ‘banefire’ or ‘bonfire’ in the burgh of Hawick [in Roxburghshire, Scotland], old bones were regularly collected and stored up, down to c. 1800”. The verb is derived from the noun. Cognate with Scots banefire (“bonfire”).

Meanings

1. A large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal.
   • The bells of all England rang joyously: the gutters ran with ale; and, night after night, the sky five miles round London was reddened by innumerable bonfires. 1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter I, in The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 148:
   • A number of towns in East Sussex, and on the borders of Kent and Surrey, make a special feature of huge bonfires and torchlight processions with fireworks on Guy Fawkes day or an early November Saturday. 1953 January, “Notes and News: Locomotive Notes: Southern Region”, in Railway Magazine, page 68:
   • O thou art a perpetuall triumph, an euerlaſting bonefire light, […] c. 1597 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The History of Henrie the Fourth; […], quarto edition, London: […] P[eter] S[hort] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1598, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:
   • And vve particularly remember, that, being at ſome diſtance from London one Night, that the People, upon a very vvell-come Occaſion, teſtified their Joy by numerous Bon-fires; though, by reaſon of the Interpoſition of the Houſes, vve could not ſee the Fires themſelves, yet vve could plainly ſee the Air all enlighten'd over and near the City; vvhich argu'd, that the lucid Beams ſhot upvvards from the Fires, met in the Air with the Corpuſcles opacous enough to reflect them to our Eyes. 1659 December 30 (date written), Robert Boyle, “[Experiment 37]”, in New Experiments Physico-Mechanicall, Touching the Spring of the Air, and Its Effects […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] H[enry] Hall, printer to the University, for Tho[mas] Robinson, published 1660, →OCLC, page 309:
   • Towns have been taken, and battles have been won; the mob has huzza'd round bonefires, the Stentor of the chappel has ſtrained his throat in the gallery, and the Stentor of S——m has deafned his audience from the pulpit. 1710 October 1 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Whig-Examiner: No. 2. Wednesday, September 21. [1710.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, →OCLC, page 339:
   • Theſe vvith the like diſtaſtures, diuulged among the rude multitude, it vvas a vvorld to ſee the face of this nevv VVorld, for in euery ſtreete Bonfires vvere made, in euery Church bels rung, Ditties vvere ſung at euery meeting, and euery man cryed K. Henry, King Henry, […] 1611, Iohn Speed [i.e., John Speed], “Edward the Fourth, First King of the House of Yorke, King of England and France, […]”, in The History of Great Britaine under the Conquests of yͤ Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. […], London: […] William Hall and John Beale, for John Sudbury and George Humble, […], →OCLC, book IX ([Englands Monarchs] […]), paragraph 50, page 681:
2. A fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items; originally (historical), heretics or other offenders, or banned books; now, generally agricultural or garden waste, or rubbish.
   • [M]any of the women threw down their head-dresses in the middle of his [Thomas Conecte's] sermon, and made a bonfire of them within sight of the pulpit. 1711 July 2 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “THURSDAY, June 22, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 98; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 42:
   • He's mounted on a Hazel Bavin, / A Cropt malignant Baker gave 'em. / And to the largeſt Bonefire, riding / Th' have Roaſted Cook already, and Pride-m. 1677 (indicated as 1678), [Samuel Butler], “[The Third Part of Hudibras]. Canto II.”, in Hudibras. The Third and Last Part. […], London: […] Robert Horne, […], published 1679, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 183:
   • I had thought to haue let in ſome of all Profeſſions, that goe the Primroſe way to th'euerlasting Bonfire. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 137, column 1:
   • [A]ll the inhabitauntes confortynge and exhortynge eche other to die, rather than to violate the leage and amitie that they of longe tyme had contynued with the Romaynes, by one hole assent, after that they hadde made sondry great pyles of wode and of other mater to brenne, they layde in it all their goodes and substaunce, and laste of all, conuayenge them selfes in to the saide pyles or bonefires with their wyfes and children, sette all on fire, and there were brenned or Annyballe coulde entree the citie. 1531, Thomas Elyot, “Of Faythe or Fidelitie, Called in Latyne Fides whiche is the Fundation of Iustyce”, in Ernest Rhys, editor, The Boke Named the Governour […] (Everyman’s Library), London: J[oseph] M[alaby] Dent & Co; New York, N.Y.: E[dward] P[ayson] Dutton & Co, published [1907], →OCLC, 3rd book, page 213:
3. (figuratively) Something like a bonfire (sense 1 or 2) in heat, destructiveness, ferocity, etc.
   • And one thing I like in you, novv that you ſee / The bonefire of your Ladies ſtate burnt out, / You give it over, doe you not? 1620 (first performance; published 1622), Philip Messenger [i.e., Philip Massinger]; Thomas Dekker, The Virgin Martyr; a Tragedie. […], London: […] B[ernard] A[lsop] and T[homas] F[awcet] for Thomas Iones, […], published 1631, →OCLC, Act III, signature [G4], verso:
4. (obsolete) A fire lit to cremate a dead body; a funeral pyre.
   • For after Tertullian, in the dayes of Minucius it was obviouſly objected upon Chriſtians, that they condemned the practiſe of burning. […] And perhaps not fully diſuſed till Chriſtianity fully eſtabliſhed, vvhich gave the finall extinction to theſe ſepulchrall Bonefires. 1658, Thomas Browne, “Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall. […]. Chapter II.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, […] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, […], London: […] Hen[ry] Brome […], →OCLC, page 22:
   • The bodies which the plague had ſlaine were (O moſt wretched caſe) / Not caried forth to buriall now. For why ſuch ſtore there was / That ſcarce the gates were wyde inough for Coffins forth to paſſe. / So eyther lothly on the ground vnburied did they lie, / Or elſe without ſolemnitie were burnt in bonfires hie / No reuerence nor regard was had. 1567, Ovid, “The Seventh Booke”, in Arthur Golding, transl., The XV. Bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, Entytuled Metamorphosis, […], London: […] Willyam Seres […], →OCLC, folio 90, verso:
   • Now wil the Chriſtian miſcreants be glad, / Ringing with ioy their ſuperſtitious belles: / And making bonfires for my ouerthrow. / But ere I die thoſe foule Idolaters / Shall make me bonfires with their filthy bones, […] c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene iii:

Forms

Deriveds

bonfire boy · bonfirelike · Bonfire Night · bonfire society · Bonfire Island · bonfire tree · bonnie · bonfire of the vanities · bonfire toffee · piss on someone's bonfire

Relateds

balefire

Synonyms

bale · bale

Translations (108)

xdq цӏа (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · nl brandstapel (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · de Scheiterhaufen (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · pl stos (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · nrf fouée (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · gl lumeirada (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · eo rubfajro (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · sh ло̀мача (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · he מְדוּרָה (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · it rogo (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · ja かがり火 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · bho 𑂍𑂸𑂚𑂰 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · hy խարույկ (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · sl kres (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · eo rubfajro (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · pl ognisko (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · it falò (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · hu örömtűz (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · khb ᦂᦸᧂᦺᦝ (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · sk táborák (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · mai घूर (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ro foc de tabără (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · da bål (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · bg ла́герен о́гън (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ja 篝火 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · nrf feu d'jouaie (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · th กองไฟ (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · vi đống lửa (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · pt fogueira (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · mai घूड़ि (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · bho 𑂃𑂪𑂰𑂫 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · cs vatra (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · tr şenlik ateşi (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · es fogón (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ca foguera (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · yi שײַטער (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · uk во́гнище (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ca foguera (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ga tine chnámh (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · mag 𑂃𑂪𑂰𑂫 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · gl cacharela (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · fi kokko (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · mk логорски оган (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · fr bûcher (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · sv bål (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ar مَشْعَل (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · lv ugunskurs (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · nn bål (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · hu máglya (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · be касьцёр (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · cmn 篝火 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · cmn 篝火 (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · uk бага́ття (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ro rug (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · sh ло̀мача (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · lt laužas (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ja たき火 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · lt laužas (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · cy goddaith (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · fi rovio (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · sh lòmača (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · ko 모닥불 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · gl lumeirada (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · ru костёр (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · cy coelcerth (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · de Freudenfeuer (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · hy խարույկ (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · nl vreugdevuur (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · is bál (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · hi अलाव (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · gl fogueira (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · it falò (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · ru костёр (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · vi lửa mừng (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ang bæl (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · br tantad (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · fi rovio (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ko 우등불 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ga tine chnámh (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · he מְדוּרָה (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · be во́гнішча (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · eo festfajro (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · fi nuotio (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · xdq гургума́й (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · be касцёр (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · is varðeldur (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · gl fogueira (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · ko 구화 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · nb bål (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · sv lägereld (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · pt fogueira (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · es fogata (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · mai अलाव (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · cs táborák (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · pl ognisko (something like a bonfire in heat, destructiveness, ferocity, etc.) · ko 화톳불 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · sh lòmača (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · fr feu de joie (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · niq korosio (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · ja 焚き火 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · sv brasa (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · lo ກອງໄຟ (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · yue 篝火 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · mai घुड़ारी (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · bho 𑂐𑂴𑂩𑂰 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · mag 𑂐𑂴𑂚𑂱 (large, controlled outdoor fire lit to celebrate something or as a signal) · eu sutzar (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items) · es hoguera (fire lit outdoors to burn unwanted items)

wikidata: Q9505308 · wikipedia: Oxford English Dictionary

bonfire en · VERB

Pronunciation

• [ˈb̥ɒ̃ɱfaɛ̯ɚ] Southern US, African-American Vernacular
• [ˈbɒɱˌfaɪ̯ɚ]
• /ˈbɑnˌfaɪɚ/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈbɒnfaɪə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈbɒnfaɪəɹ/

Etymology

PIE word *péh₂wr̥ From Middle English bonnefyre (“a fire in which bones are burnt, bonfire”) [and other forms], by surface analysis, bone + fire. Replaced earlier Middle English bale-fyre, from Old English bǣlfȳr (see balefire). The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) notes that bonfires, originally lit as part of midsummer celebrations, were not generally associated with the burning of bones. However, the first edition of the OED (under the title A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 1887) stated that “for the annual midsummer ‘banefire’ or ‘bonfire’ in the burgh of Hawick [in Roxburghshire, Scotland], old bones were regularly collected and stored up, down to c. 1800”. The verb is derived from the noun. Cognate with Scots banefire (“bonfire”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To destroy (something) by, or as if by, burning on a bonfire; (more generally) to burn or set alight.
   • [L]ibraries to be bonfired on the ground that the care of books competed with the care of babies, […] 1930, Wyndham Lewis, “At the American Bar”, in The Apes of God, Santa Barbara, Calif.: Black Sparrow Press, published 1981, →ISBN, part XII (Lord Osmund’s Lenten Party), page 454:
   • We fell, fell, fell all of us, Icaruses, bits of papery ash falling through dusk after the German Reich had been bonfired out of existence by French and Bolshevist guile. 2007, A[ndrew] N[orman] Wilson, “The Flying Dutchman”, in Winnie and Wolf, London: Hutchinson, →ISBN, page 28:
   • And as for ancient history, I think a good share of that could be bonfired. Kings, Emperors, Popes, Doges, Consuls, Priests, Shahs, Pharoahs, and all their quarrels and squabblings, with the times and seasons of the same—what a fine blaze they would make, and it is the only fine thing they could make, as I count it. 1894, William Hawley Smith, “House-cleaning and History”, in Walks Abroad and Talks about Them, Peoria, Ill.: Educational Press Association, →OCLC, page 210:
   • If I was school . . . I’d capitulate tomorrow. I’d bonfire the books, drain the inkwells and bust up the blackboard — if only he would stop hating. It’s wearing me out! 1957 November 14, Sputnik [pseudonym], “My Son Hates School”, in Daily Record, number 19,357, Glasgow: Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 2, columns 2–3:
   • 'Thank you, Bruce sweetie,' Victoria said, serenely, the operating light directly behind her bonfiring her hair. 2001, Kathy Lette, “Relying on the Kindness of Passing Serial Killers”, in Nip ’n’ Tuck, Sydney, N.S.W.: Picador, →ISBN, page 234:
   • From one house they went to another, from that to another, until not one of the Christian[s]' houses was left standing. Everything was deliberately taken outside and bonfired; where the house adjoined others it was destroyed, where it stood alone it was given over to the devouring element. 1895 July 20, “Chinese Items”, in The Japan Weekly Mail: A Review of Japanese Commerce, Politics, Literature, and Art, volume XXIV, number 3, Yokohama: […] James Ellacutt Beale, […], →OCLC, page 67, column 3:
   • So snug he was in his hotel premises sumptuous / But soon we'll bonfire all his trash, tricks and trumpery / And 'tis short till sheriff Clancy'll be winding up his unlimited company 1939 May 4, James Joyce, Finnegans Wake, London: Faber and Faber Limited, →OCLC; republished London: Faber & Faber Limited, 1960, →OCLC, part I, page 46:
   • Sir, there are as many public documents as you could put in this room that must be taken out and bonfired, that have cost millions, that must be burned up, unless this provision of the honorable Senator from Illinois is carried. 1870 June 20, [James Warren] Nye, “Post Office Appropriation Bill”, in F. & J. Rives and George A. Bailey, editors, The Congressional Globe: […] (United States Senate, 41st Congress, 2nd session), volume LXIII, part V, Washington, D.C.: Blair and Rives; […], →OCLC, page 4646, column 2:
   • In any case, he made a point of bonfiring most of Lane's ideas, especially the liberal ones. 1988, Bill James [pseudonym; James Tucker], chapter 24, in Protection, London: Penguin Books, published 1989, →ISBN, page 161:
   • Skinny militia fighters with canisters on their backs had circled the compound. Burning gasoline-covered tents and corpses, bonfiring the thorn tree barrier, creating heat so profound it convoluted the air and made our plane bounce. 2016 July, James Abel, Cold Silence (A Joe Rush Novel), New York, N.Y.: Berkley Books, →ISBN, page 60:
   • [L]ike the Christmas joke of snapdragons for children, the very liquor was to be bonfired also, and drank burning. 1828 May, “[Review of New Publications.] 96. Nichols’s Progresses of King James I. Parts XIX. and XX. (Concluded from p. 154.)”, in Sylvanus Urban [pseudonym], editor, The Gentleman’s Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, volume XXI (New Series; volume XCVIII overall), 1st part, London: […] J[ohn] B[owyer] Nichols and Son, […]; and sold by John Harris, […], published 2 June 1828, →OCLC, page 427, column 1:
2. (transitive) To fire (pottery) using a bonfire.
   • Fabricated in the coil and pinch manner of old societies, the work was bonfired—but then a unique treatment was used. Before the pot had cooled, hot melted pitch from piñon trees was poured or rubbed in a thin coating over the vessel, inside and out. This unusual technique distinguished the look and aroma of Navajo pottery. 2003, Susan Peterson, “The Legacy of Generation: Pottery by Contemporary American Indian Women”, in Susan R. Ressler, editor, Woman Artists of the American West, Jefferson, N.C.; London: McFarland & Company, →ISBN, section II (Identity), page 104, column 1:
   • In China, where huge figures have been excavated in recent years at Xian, archaeologists surmise that they were probably bonfired lying horizontally in a pit, or possibly handmade bricks were piled over the sculptures to retain heat; the bricks would have been removed from round the figure when the firing was over. 2002, Susan Peterson, Jan Peterson, “Firing Ceramics”, in Working with Clay, 2nd edition, London: Laurence King Publishing, →ISBN, page 131, column 1:
   • The pots are formed by the coiling method and bonfired using palm fronds, grass and sometimes dung. 2000, Moira Vincentelli, “Running the Business”, in Women and Ceramics: Gendered Vessels, Manchester; New York, N.Y.: Manchester University Press, →ISBN, page 195:
3. (obsolete, transitive) To start a bonfire in (a place); to light up (a place) with a bonfire.
   • They almost carried him [the king] into the palace on their shoulders; and at night the whole town was illuminated and bonfired. 1743 November 28 (Gregorian calendar), Horace Walpole, “To Sir Horace Mann”, in The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford: […], volumes I (1735–1748), Philadelphia, Pa.: Lea and Blanchard, published 1842, →OCLC, page 349:
4. (intransitive, rare) To make, or celebrate around, a bonfire.
   • [W]hen the news of the battle of Lissa came even to our remote quarter of Ireland, we considered it as a triumph for the cause of Protestantism, and illuminated, and bonfired, and had a sermon at church, and kept the Prussian king's birthday, on which my uncle would get drunk, as indeed on any other occasion. 1844 January–December, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, “In which Barry Takes a Near View of Military Glory”, in “The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq. [The Luck of Barry Lyndon.]”, in Miscellanies: Prose and Verse, volume III, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1856, →OCLC, page 62:
   • Before I got out of Josh's car as he dropped me off after Marmalade's that first night, he said they were bonfiring at Shell Shores the next afternoon. He didn't even ask if I wanted to meet them, just assumed I'd be there. 2016, Alexandra Sirowy, chapter 4, in The Telling, New York, N.Y.; London: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, →ISBN, page 36:
   • Seems as if one day we are all bar-b-quing, swimming, jetskiing, bonfiring, and the next thing you know everyone is gone, leaving the house empty (except for the sad pile of damp towels and a refrigerator full of sloppy Jo's). 2014 March 27, Joan Rust, “11.7.10: Spangles and Big C-Burgers”, in Anniecat Chronicles, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, page 131:

Forms

Deriveds

bonfiring

Translations (6)

pl wypalić (to fire (pottery) using a bonfire) · pl wypalać (to fire (pottery) using a bonfire) · pl rozpalić ognisko (to make, or celebrate around, a bonfire) · pl spalić (to destroy (something) by, or as if by, burning on a bonfire) · pl rozpalać ognisko (to make, or celebrate around, a bonfire) · pl spalać (to destroy (something) by, or as if by, burning on a bonfire)

wikipedia: Oxford English Dictionary