Definition of "bandy"

Incapable of hearing reproach or bandying invective, her husband had sunk into the indolence of pensive resignation, and, sensible that things had gone too far for effectual retrieve, tried to find a lenitive in the love of his sister, and the often disappointed hope of a son, during whose long minority wonders were to be done in the management of his property.

1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXIX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], page 76

Let not obvious and known Truths, or some of the most plain and certain Propositions be bandy’d about in a Disputation, for a meer Trial of Skill […]

1741, I[saac] Watts, chapter 13, in The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: […], London: […] James Brackstone, […], paragraph 20.3, page 187

Technical terms like ferrite, perlite, graphite, and hardenite were bandied to and fro, and when Paget glibly brought out such a rare exotic as ferro-molybdenum, Benson forgot that he was a master ship-builder, […]

1928, Lawrence R. Bourne, chapter 4, in Well Tackled!‎

Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?

c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iv]

For as whipp'd tops and bandied balls, / The learned hold, are animals; / So horses they affirm to be / Mere engines made by geometry […]

1662, [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge: University Press, 1905, canto 2

For, had we no Mastery at all over our Thoughts, but they were all like Tennis Balls, Bandied, and Struck upon us, as it were by Rackets from without; then could we not steadily and constantly carry on any Designs and Purposes of Life.

1678, Ralph Cudworth, The True Intellectual System of the Universe‎, London: Richard Royston, Book I, Chapter 5, p

Brother displaie my ensignes in the field,Ile bandie with the Barons and the Earles,And eyther die, or liue with Gaueston.

1594 (first publication), Christopher Marlow[e], The Trovblesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edvvard the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, (please specify the page)

Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hathForbidden bandying in Verona streets:

c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene i]

But when a King setts himself to bandy against the highest Court and residence of all his Regal power, he then, in the single person of a Man, fights against his own Majesty and Kingship, and then indeed sets the first hand to his own deposing.

1649, J[ohn] Milton, chapter 18, in ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], pages 160-161

Then the Parson might preach, and drink, and sing, / And we’d be as happy as birds in the spring; / And modest Dame Lurch, who is always at church, / Would not have bandy children, nor fasting, nor birch.

1794, William Blake, The Little Vagabond, third stanza

A black servant, who reposed on the box beside the fat coachman, uncurled his bandy legs as soon as the equipage drew up opposite Miss Pinkerton's shining brass plate, and as he pulled the bell at least a score of young heads were seen peering out of the narrow windows of the stately old brick house.

1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 1, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848

There was an old man drying near them, squat and bandy and brown all over, and Nick remembered him from last year […]

2004, Alan Hollinghurst, chapter 7, in The Line of Beauty […], 1st US edition, New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury Publishing