bustle

¹bus·tle

intransitive verb \ˈbə-səl\

bus·tled bus·tling \ˈbəs-liŋ, ˈbə-sə-\

Definition of BUSTLE

1

: to move briskly and often ostentatiously

2

: to be busily astir : teem

— bustling adjective

— bus·tling·ly \-liŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of BUSTLE

1. She bustled around the kitchen getting ready for dinner guests.
2. <on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop>

Origin of BUSTLE

probably alteration of obsolete buskle to prepare, frequentative of busk, from Old Norse būask to prepare oneself

First Known Use: 1580

Related to BUSTLE

Synonyms

brim, bristle, bulge, burst, abound, buzz, crawl, hum, overflow, pullulate, swarm, teem

Antonyms

crawl, creep, poke

Related Words

beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle; stampede, streak, whiz (or whizz); gallop, jog, sprint; accelerate, quicken, step out; catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake; arrow, beeline

Near Antonyms

lack, need, want

Rhymes with BUSTLE

hustle, muscle, mussel, rustle, tussle

²bustle

noun

Definition of BUSTLE

: noisy, energetic, and often obtrusive activity <the hustle and bustle of the big city>

First Known Use of BUSTLE

1621

Rhymes with BUSTLE

hustle, muscle, rustle, tussle

³bustle

noun

Definition of BUSTLE

: a pad or framework expanding and supporting the fullness and drapery of the back of a woman's skirt or dress; also : the drapery so supported

Origin of BUSTLE

origin unknown

First Known Use: 1786

Other Clothing Terms

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