burnfire

English

Etymology

Alteration (due to association with burn) of Early Modern English boonfire, bondfire, bounfire (“bonfire”). More at bonfire.

Noun

burnfire (plural burnfires)

1. (nonstandard) Bonfire.
   • 1896, Harper's new monthly magazine, volume 93:

     It may ha' been wicked, but there 'twas, an' the thought kep' arter me, till all I could think of was the chist; an' byme-by I says to Mary Ellen, one mornin', ' Le's open it to-day an' make a burnfire !'

   • 1887, New York (State). Secretary's Office, Frederick Cook, Journals of the military expedition of Major General John Sullivan:

     […] the town of Owegea was made a burnfire of to Grace our Meating^[sic] our General Course from Tiago to Choconant […]