Plural of bond; financial securities representing loans; strong connections or relationships between people; physical restraints or ties.
From Middle English 'bond,' variant of 'band,' from Old Norse 'band' meaning 'fetter, bond.' Related to 'bind' and originally referred to physical ties.
The evolution from physical bonds (chains, ropes) to financial bonds (debt instruments) to emotional bonds (relationships) shows how metaphor shapes language. All three meanings preserve the core idea of connection and obligation.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.