buckle

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English [edit]

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Pronunciation [edit]

Etymology 1 [edit]

From a frequentative form of buck (“to bend, buckle”), of Dutch Low Saxon or German Low German origin, related to Dutch bukken (“to stoop, bend, yield, submit”), German bücken (“to stoop, bend”), Swedish bocka (“to buck, bow”), equivalent to buck +‎ -le. Compare Middle Dutch buchelen (“to strive, tug under a load”), German dialectal aufbückeln (“to raise or arch the back”).

Verb [edit]

buckle (third-person singular simple present buckles, present participle buckling, simple past and past participle buckled)

  1. (intransitive) To distort or collapse under physical pressure; especially, of a slender structure in compression.
    • 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, "[1]," New York Times (retrieved 31 October 2012):
      Perhaps as startling as the sheer toll was the devastation to some of the state’s well-known locales. Boardwalks along the beach in Seaside Heights, Belmar and other towns on the Jersey Shore were blown away. Amusement parks, arcades and restaurants all but vanished. Bridges to barrier islands buckled, preventing residents from even inspecting the damage to their property.
  2. (intransitive, figuratively) To give in; to react suddenly or adversely to stress or pressure (of a person).
    It is amazing that he has never buckled after so many years of doing such urgent work.
  3. (intransitive) To yield; to give way; to cease opposing.
    • Samuel Pepys
      The Dutch, as high as they seem, do begin to buckle.
  4. (obsolete, intransitive) To enter upon some labour or contest; to join in close fight; to contend.
    • Latimer
      The bishop was as able and ready to buckle with the Lord Protector as he was with him.
    • Shakespeare
      In single combat thou shalt buckle with me.
  5. To buckle down; to apply oneself.
    • Barrow
      To make our sturdy humour buckle thereto.
    • J. D. Forbes
      Before buckling to my winter's work.
Translations [edit]
to collapse

Etymology 2 [edit]

A buckle (clasp for fastening).
  • Noun: Old French bocle, from Latin buccula (“cheek strap of a helmet”), diminutive of bucca (“cheek”).
  • Verb: bokelen "to arch the body," from Middle French boucler (“to bulge”), from Old French bocler (“to bulge, curl”), from bocle (“boss of a shield”).

Noun [edit]

buckle (plural buckles)

  1. (countable) A clasp used for fastening two things together, such as the ends of a belt, or for retaining the end of a strap.
  2. (Canada, heraldry) The brisure of an eighth daughter.
  3. (roofing) An upward, elongated displacement of a roof membrane frequently occurring over insulation or deck joints. A buckle may be an indication of movement with the roof assembly.
Translations [edit]
belt clasp

Verb [edit]

buckle (third-person singular simple present buckles, present participle buckling, simple past and past participle buckled)

  1. (transitive) To fasten using a buckle.
Translations [edit]
to fasten
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See also [edit]

Anagrams [edit]

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