Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US milit./campus/prison, also bunkee, bunkey, bunky) a room-mate, a cell-mate; a friend.

1858		T.G. Vielé Following The Drum 218: I rewarded [his affection for the dog] by giving him Jack for his ‘bunkie’!
1865		W. Hilleary diary 18 Apr. in A Webfoot Volunteer (1965) 57: Officers tried to divide the Co. into squads, compelling men to change their ‘Bunkees’ for others.
1876		C. King Campaigning With Crook (1964) 149: Wid bunkies shtarvin’ by our side, no rations was the rule.
1889		H. O’Reilly Fifty Years on the Trail 215: Two of us slept in each waggon [...] I got my ‘bunkey,’ or travelling companion, to drive for me.
1903		A. Adams Log Of A Cowboy 24: The Rebel and I were bunkies.
1912		D. Lowrie My Life in Prison 134: The cornetist, who had been Charlie’s ‘bunky’.
1918		D.G. Rowse Doughboy Dope 73: When you are not suspecting your bunkies of having the flu, you are wondering whether any of your relatives are having it.
1927		‘Max Brand’ Pleasant Jim 42: It was after his old bunkie, Dill Peters, was arrested for running guns into Mexico.
1931		O. Strange Law O’ The Lariat 106: I figure he’s a bunkie o’ Severn’s.
c.1943		‘Bill O. Lading’ You Chirped a Chinful!! n.p.: Bunky: Pal. Shares your all.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn) 38: bunky A cell mate.
1958		(con. 1950) E. Frankel Band of Brothers 101: Me and my bunkie got us a good place fer some sack drill.
1971		I. Faust Willy Remembers 202: I had the bugles and I had my bunkies.
1991		D. Simon Homicide (1993) 216: Your bunky’s going home tonight because he gave a statement making you the triggerman.
1992		Bentley & Corbett Prison Sl. 38: Bunkie A light-hearted reference to a cell mate.
2000		Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner’s Dict. July 🌐 Bunkie: The person with whom a prisoner shares a double bunk bed.
2001		J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 104: Old Tony Z and Mini-Mac. Are they that way? Little lovebirds? Maybe they’ll be bunkies in Lewisburg. Up there in Section Three, the Femme Tier. Bitch City ...
2004		letter in Mad mag. Sept. 4: I am incarcerated in a youth prison [...] When I came here, my bunkie received MAD.

2. (US) a general term of address, usu. condescending.

1899		W.H. Coston Spanish-Amer. War Volunteer 9: [white soldier to black] Hold on, bunkie, here’s my cup.
1971		I. Faust Willy Remembers 245: Take it easy, bunkie.
1984		C. Heath, A-Team 2 138: I gotta tell ya, bunkey, you’re hangin’ by a thread with me.
2009		J. Stahl Pain Killers 384: Hey there, bunky.

3. in fig. non-custodial use, an aquaintance.

1997		T. Fontana ‘Straight Life’ Oz ser. 1 ep. 5 [TV script] One of his bunkies in narcotics must be talking to the Mob.
2008		Simon & Collins ‘Not for Attribution’ Wire ser. 5 ep. 3 [TV script] You float it with one of your bunkies in Calvert Street. See how it plays.