Bunted mail

A curious phrase!

"Bunted mail" is a term that was commonly used in the past, particularly in the United States, to refer to mail that was sent to the wrong address or was misdirected. The term "bunted" is thought to have originated from the idea that the mail was "bunted" or bounced around, ending up in the wrong place.

In the early days of postal service, mail was often sorted and delivered by hand, which could lead to errors. If a letter or package was misaddressed or misdelivered, it might end up in the wrong mailbox or even be lost altogether.

The term "bunted mail" was often used to describe this type of mistake, and it was usually accompanied by a sense of frustration and inconvenience for the person who was trying to receive the mail.

While the term "bunted mail" is still used in some contexts, it's largely a relic of the past, as modern postal systems have become more efficient and automated, reducing the likelihood of mail being misdirected.