buckle

== English == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbʌkəl/, [ˈbʌkɫ̩] Homophone: buccal Rhymes: -ʌkəl Hyphenation: buck‧le === Etymology 1 === The noun is derived from Middle English bokel (“spiked metal ring for fastening; ornamental clasp; boss of a shield; a shield, buckler; (figurative) means of defence”) [and other forms], from Old French boucle, bocle (“spiked metal ring for fastening; boss of a shield; a shield”) [and other forms], from Latin buccula (“cheek strap of a helmet; boss of a shield”) (from bucca (“soft part of the cheek”)). Noun etymology 1 sense 2 (“great conflict or struggle”) is probably derived from verb etymology 1 sense 1.2.1 (“to apply (oneself) to, or prepare (oneself) for, a task or work”). The verb is derived from Middle English bokelen, bukelen (“to fasten (something) with a buckle or clasp; to fasten, make fast; to wrap; to arch the body”) [and other forms], from bokel (noun) (see above) + -en (suffix forming the infinitive of verbs). In verb etymology 1 sense 1.2.1, the sense “to apply (oneself) to, or prepare (oneself) for, a task or work” was derived from the now obsolete sense “to equip (oneself) for a battle, etc.”, and originally alluded to armour being buckled on to the body. ==== Noun ==== buckle (plural buckles) A metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike through which a belt or strap is passed and penetrated by the tongue or spike, in order to fasten the ends of the belt together or to secure the strap to something else. (by extension) Some other form of clasp used to fasten two things together. (Canada, heraldry) An image of a clasp (etymology 1 sense 1) used as the brisure of an eighth daughter. A great conflict or struggle. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== buckle (third-person singular simple present buckles, present participle buckling, simple past and past participle buckled) (transitive) To fasten (something) using a buckle (noun etymology 1 sense 1); hence (obsolete), to fasten (something) in any way. Antonym: unbuckle (figurative) (reflexive) To apply (oneself) to, or prepare (oneself) for, a task or work; also (obsolete), to equip (oneself) for a battle, expedition, etc. Synonym: buckle down (British, dialectal (especially Scotland) or humorous) To unite (people) in marriage; to marry. (intransitive, figurative) To apply oneself to or prepare for a task or work. (British, dialectal (especially Scotland) or humorous) To unite with someone in marriage; to marry. (obsolete except British, dialectal) To participate in some contest or labour; to join in close fight; to contend. ===== Conjugation ===== ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === Origin uncertain. Probably from Middle English bokelen (“to arch the body”), from Middle French boucler (“to bulge”, literally “to take the shape of a shield boss”), from the same ultimate origin as Etymology 1 above. In some senses, possibly from buck (“to bend, yield, buckle”) +‎ -le (frequentative suffix). ==== Verb ==== buckle (third-person singular simple present buckles, present participle buckling, simple past and past participle buckled) (transitive) To cause (something) to bend, or to become distorted. (obsolete) To curl (hair). (intransitive) Of a thing (especially a slender structure under compression): to collapse or distort under physical pressure. Synonyms: cave, cave in, crumple, fold (figurative) Of a person: to (suddenly) cease resisting pressure or stress; to give in or give way, to yield. Synonyms: break, buck, cave, crumple, fold, surrender ===== Derived terms ===== buckled (adjective) buckle under buckling (adjective, noun) ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== buckle (countable and uncountable, plural buckles) (countable) A distortion; a bend, bulge, or kink. (roofing) An upward, elongated displacement of a roof membrane, frequently occurring over deck joints or insulation, which may indicate movement of the roof assembly. (countable, Canada, US, baking) Usually preceded by a descriptive word: a cake baked with fresh fruit (often blueberries) and a streusel topping. (countable, obsolete) A curl of hair, especially a kind of crisp curl formerly worn; also (countable, uncountable), the state of hair being curled in this manner. ===== Hyponyms ===== sun kink (“a buckle in a railway track”) ===== Translations ===== === References === === Further reading === buckle on Wikipedia.Wikipedia buckle (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia buckling (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Edward H[enry] Knight (1877), “Buckle”, in Knight’s American Mechanical Dictionary. […], volumes I (A–GAS), New York, N.Y.: Hurd and Houghton […], →OCLC, page 397. === Anagrams === Lubeck, Lübeck