An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/bunt
bunt, adjective, ‘gay, mottled, variegated,’ a Middle German and Low German word (for which gefleckt, gespreckelt, &c., are used in Upper German), from the equivalent Middle High German bunt (inflected bunter); nt shows that the word cannot have been handed down from Old High German, for nt in Old High German would have become nd in Middle High German. Akin to Middle Low German bunt, Middle Dutch bont, also with -nt-. Bunt was borrowed in the Middle High German period; the Middle High German signification, ‘with black spots on a white ground’ (Modern High German bunt is Middle High German missenar), supports the view that it was borrowed from Middle Latin punctus, ‘dotted, spotted’ (for the loss of the medial c compare Italian punto, ‘point,’ as well as Tinte). In spite of this explanation the absence of the word in Romance is remarkable. On account of the earlier reference to fur-skin (Middle High German and Middle Low German bunt, neuter, also signifies ‘fur-skin’), Middle Latin mus ponticus, ‘ermine,’ has been suggested, the meaning of which would suit excellently were there no objection to the form of the expression.