buckle

¹buck·le

noun \ˈbə-kəl\

Definition of BUCKLE

1

: a fastening for two loose ends that is attached to one and holds the other by a catch

2

: an ornamental device that suggests a buckle

3

archaic : a crisp curl

Origin of BUCKLE

Middle English bocle, from Anglo-French, boss of a shield, buckle, from Latin buccula, diminutive of bucca cheek

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

Rhymes with BUCKLE

buccal, chuckle, knuckle, suckle, truckle

²buckle

verb

buck·led buck·ling \ˈbə-k(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of BUCKLE

transitive verb

1

: to fasten with a buckle

2

: to prepare with vigor

3

: to cause to bend, give way, or crumple

intransitive verb

1

: to become fastened with a buckle

2

: to apply oneself with vigor —usually used with down <buckle down to the job>

3

: to bend or move usually under the influence of some external agency <wheat buckling in the wind>

4

: collapse <the props buckled under the strain>

5

: to give way : yield <he buckled under pressure>

Examples of BUCKLE

1. She buckled the horses into their harness.
2. The pavement buckled in the heat.

First Known Use of BUCKLE

14th century

Related to BUCKLE

Synonyms

collapse, cave (in), crumple, founder, give, go, go out, implode, tumble, yield

Related Words

deflate, flatten, melt, melt down; break, break down, conk (out), crash, die, fail, give out, stall; burst, shatter, smash, splinter, split; crack, crumble, pop, snap

Near Antonyms

inflate, rise, swell

Rhymes with BUCKLE

chuckle, knuckle

³buckle

noun

Definition of BUCKLE

1

: a product of buckling : bend, fold

2

: a coffee cake baked with berries and a crumbly topping <blueberry buckle>

First Known Use of BUCKLE

circa 1876