noun

bonfire

bonfire

We sat around the bonfire singing songs.

We sat around the bonfire singing songs.

They built a huge bonfire for the celebration.

They built a huge bonfire for the celebration.

((a bonfire)) a large outdoor fire We sat around the bonfire.

campfire, pyre

From Middle English 'bonefire', literally a 'fire of bones'. 'Bon' (bone) + 'fire'. Originally, it referred to open-air fires for burning bones.

Think of a 'good fire' (from French 'bon' meaning good), although the true origin is 'bone fire'. It's usually larger than a campfire.

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