bounty Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun payment or reward (especially from a government) for acts such as catching criminals or killing predatory animals or enlisting in the military
    premium.
  2. noun the property of copious abundance
    bountifulness; amplitude.
  3. noun generosity evidenced by a willingness to give freely
    bounteousness.
  4. noun a ship of the British navy; in 1789 part of the crew mutinied against their commander William Bligh and set him afloat in an open boat
    H.M.S. Bounty.

WordNet

Boun"ty noun
Etymology
OE. bounte goodness, kindness, F. bonté, fr. L. bonitas, fr. bonus good, for older duonus; cf. Skr. duvas honor, respect.
Wordforms
plural Bounties
Definitions
  1. Goodness, kindness; virtue; worth. Obs.
    Nature set in her at once beauty with bounty. Gower.
  2. Liberality in bestowing gifts or favors; gracious or liberal giving; generosity; munificence.
    My bounty is as boundless as the sea. Shak.
  3. That which is given generously or liberally. "Thy morning bounties." Cowper.
  4. A premium offered or given to induce men to enlist into the public service; or to encourage any branch of industry, as husbandry or manufactures. Syn. -- Munificence; generosity; beneficence.

Webster 1913