buckle
Syllables: buck·le/ˈbʌkəl/
buckle noun: 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.
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Noun (1)
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.
- Svveet Hellen I muſt vvoe you, / To helpe vn-arme our Hector: his ſtubborne bucles / VVith this your vvhite enchaunting fingers touch; / Shall more obey then to the edge of ſteele, / Or force of Greekiſh ſinevves: […]c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609...
- Tongue of my shoe-buckle broke. […] Bought a new head to my cane, and a tongue to my buckle. Drank a glass of purl to recover appetite.1712 March 14 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “MONDAY, March 4, 1711–1712”, in The Spectator, number 317; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume...
- Some other form of clasp used to fasten two things together.
- He must be forging the buckle-screw, sir, now. […] Carpenter, when he's through with that buckle, tell him to forge a pair of steel shoulder-blades; there's a pedlar aboard with a crushing pack.1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “Ahab and the Carpenter”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, pages 522–523
- An image of a clasp (etymology 1, noun sense 1) used as the brisure of an eighth daughter.
- A great conflict or struggle.
Verb (1)
buckle (third-person singular simple present buckles, present participle buckling, simple past and past participle buckled)
- To fasten (something) using a buckle (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1); hence (obsolete), to fasten (something) in any way.
- Iuſt. [i.e., the Lord Chief Justice, William Gascoigne] VVel, the truth is ſir Iohn, you liue in great infamy. / Falſt[aff]. He that buckles himſelfe in my belt cannot liue in leſſe.c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600...
- [H]ovv briefe the Life of man / runs his erring pilgrimage, / That the ſtretching of a ſpan, / buckles in his ſumme of age.c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
- Antonyms:
- unbuckle
- To apply (oneself) to, or prepare (oneself) for, a task or work; also (obsolete), to equip (oneself) for a battle, expedition, etc.
- For this cauſe whẽ the faithfull find themſelues to haue ouercome Satan in one incounter by the grace of Chriſt, let them take good heede that they imagin not their battel to be at an end: but rather let them buckle themſelues to a new charge, and valiantly aduance themſelues to handſtrokes againe.1574, Augustine Marlorate [i.e., Augustin Marlorat], “[Revelation 12:12]”, in Arthur Golding, transl., A Catholike Exposition vpon the Reuelation of Sainct Iohn. […], London: […] H[enry] Binneman...
- He left his lofty ſteede to aide him neare, / And buckling ſoone him ſelfe, gan fiercely fly / Vppon that Carle, to ſaue his friend from ieopardy.1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 12, page 454
- Synonyms:
- buckle down
- To unite (people) in marriage; to marry.
- [T]ake my advice, and marry in the firſt place vvhere vve can find a curate; or make uſe of our friend the licentiate, vvho vvill buckle you handſomely.1755, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, “The Savoury Conversation that Passed between Don Quixote and His Squire Sancho Panza; with Many Other Incidents”, in T[obias] Smollett, transl., The History and...
- They were hailed […] as a young strapping Irishman, conveying an ancient maiden to Dr Rigmarole's at Redriffe, who buckles beggars for a tester and a dram of Geneva.1822 May 29, [Walter Scott], chapter II, in The Fortunes of Nigel. […], volume III (in English), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson...
- To apply oneself to or prepare for a task or work.
- Sir John diſdainfully looking at him, ſaluted him vvith theſe VVords, Farevvel Sir Knave, (for it is to be noted that it is common vvith him to term many honeſt Men ſo). My Brother anſvvered, Sir, You are no leſs. VVhereat one of Sir John’s Men buckled to fight vvith him. But Sir John ſtayed his...1563, John Strype, quoting Edwin Sandys, “The Bishop of Worcester’s Vindication of Himself against Sir John Bourne, before the Privy Council. Bourne’s Imprisonment and Submission. [An Answer to a...
- The firſt thing vve doe in the morning before vve either eate or drink, or buckle about any vvorldly buſineſſe, is to put our clothes about vs: vve ſay, vve are not ready, till vve haue done that.1623 June 21 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), Robert Saunderson [i.e., Robert Sanderson], “[Ad Magistratum.] The First Sermon. At a Publicke Sessions at Grantham Linc[olnshire] 11. June. 1623.”...
- To unite with someone in marriage; to marry.
- Yet thou, they ſay, for Marriage do'ſt provide: / Is this an Age to Buckle vvith a Bride?1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Sixth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […]...
- To participate in some contest or labour; to join in close fight; to contend.
- So they buckled together, and the Heithen were diſcomfited, and fled ouer the playne felde: but the hynmoſt of them were ſlayne.1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, 1 Macchabees...
- VVell, it chanced that the Lord Protector [Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester] and he [Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester] fell out, and the Biſhop vvould bear nothing at all vvith him, but played me the Satrapa; ſo the Regent of France vvas fain to be ſent for from beyond the ſeas, to ſet them at one...1549 March 24 (Gregorian calendar), Hugh Latimer, “Sermon VI. Being the Second Sermon Preached before King Edward VI. March the Fifteenth.”, in The Sermons of the Right Reverend Father in God, Master...
Verb (2)
buckle (third-person singular simple present buckles, present participle buckling, simple past and past participle buckled)
- To cause (something) to bend, or to become distorted.
- [R]eaſon doth buckle and bovve the Mind vnto the Nature of things.1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for...
- Throw all their ſcandalous malice upon me? / 'Cauſe I am poor, deform'd and ignorant, / And like a Bow buckl'd and bent together, / By ſome more ſtrong in miſchiefs then my ſelf?1621 (date written; published 1658), w:William Rowley, Thomas Dekker, John Ford, “The Witch of Edmonton: A Known True Story. […]”, in The Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker […], volume IV, London: John...
- To curl (hair).
- Of a thing (especially a slender structure under compression): to collapse or distort under physical pressure.
- And as the vvretch vvhoſe feuer-vveakned ioynts, / Like ſtrengthleſſe hinges buckle vnder life, / […] euen ſo my limbes, / VVeakened vvith griefe, being novv enragde vvith griefe, / Are thrice themſelues: […]c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600...
- And thus by placing Collers vvhere ever they find the VVork buckle, they (as aforeſaid) vvith Sharp Tools, tender touches, ſomevvhat a looſe and fine String, vveak Bovv, and great care and diligence vvork the vvhole Cilinder dovvn as ſmall as they liſt, either vvith Moldings or other VVork upon it...1680, Joseph Moxon, “Numb[er] XIII. Applied to the Art of Turning.”, in Mechanick Exercises, or The Doctrine of Handy-Works, […], volume I, London: […] Joseph Moxon, published 1678, →OCLC, § XVI (Of...
- Of a person: to (suddenly) cease resisting pressure or stress; to give in or give way, to yield.
- It is amazing that he has never buckled after so many years of doing such urgent work.
- Mr. Gray did tell me to-night, for certain, that the Dutch, as high as they seem, do begin to buckle; and that one man in this Kingdom did tell the King that he is offered £40,000 to make a peace, and others have been offered money also.1664 December 26 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “December 17th, 1664”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume IV...
Noun (2)
buckle (countable and uncountable, plural buckles)
- A distortion; a bend, bulge, or kink.
- We can’t use that saw any more. It’s got a buckle in its blade.
- An upward, elongated displacement of a roof membrane, frequently occurring over deck joints or insulation, which may indicate movement of the roof assembly.
- Usually preceded by a descriptive word: a cake baked with fresh fruit (often blueberries) and a streusel topping.
- A curl of hair, especially a kind of crisp curl formerly worn; also (countable, uncountable), the state of hair being curled in this manner.
- The greatest beau at our next county sessions was dressed in a most monstrous flaxen periwig, that was made in king William's reign. The wearer of it goes, it seems, in his own hair when he is at home, and lets his wig lie in buckle for a whole half year, that he may put it on upon occasion to meet...1711 August 7 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “FRIDAY, July 28, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 129; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II...
- For vvhat's a VVoman, vvhen her Virtue's gone? / A Coat vvithout its Lace; VVig out of Buckle; / A Stocking vvith a Hole in't.1730 May 5 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Henry Fielding, Tom Thumb. A Tragedy. […], London: […] J. Roberts […], published 1730, →OCLC, Act I, scene iv, pages 6–7
Proper noun capitalized: Buckle
Buckle (plural Buckles)
- A surname originating as an occupation for a maker or seller of buckles.
buckle meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Marathi and Urdu
buckle in Hindi
- metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike
- बकसुआ baksuā
buckle in Tamil
- வார்ப்பூட்டு
buckle in Marathi
- बकल, बकल करा
buckle in Urdu
- buckle
- بکسہ baksah
More languagesFewer languages
- buckle in Bengali
- বকল, চিমটি
- buckle in Telugu
- బక్ల్, బకిల్
- buckle in Malayalam
- കൊളുത്ത്
- buckle in Kannada
- ಕೊಂಡಿ, ಕೊಳಿಕೆ
- buckle in Punjabi
- ਬੱਕਲ, ਬਕਲ, ਬੱਕਲ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ
- buckle in Gujarati
- બકલ
- buckle in Odia
- ବକ୍ଲ୍, ବକଲ, ବକଲ୍
- buckle in Sinhala
- ගාංචුව gāṁcuwa
- buckle in Nepali
- बेल्ट belṭa, पेटी peṭī
- buckle in Tagalog
- hebilya, pamuko
- buckle in Arabic
- إِبْزِيم ʔibzīm
- buckle in Malay
- gesper, kancing
- buckle in Indonesian
- gesper
- buckle in Persian
- ابزیم abzim, سگک sagak
- buckle in Thai
- หัวเข็มขัด hǔua-kěm-kàt
- buckle in Vietnamese
- khóa
- buckle in Myanmar
- ထိကပေါက် hti.ka.pauk
Examples of buckle in a sentence
- My uncle furthermore remarked that it wore high heeled shoes, after an ancient fashion, with paste or diamond buckles, that sparkled as though they were alive.1824, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “The Adventure of My Uncle”, in Tales of a Traveller, part 1 (Strange Stories. […])...
- It is a ſigne that a man hath to doe vvith a ſtrong enemie vvhen he buckleth on all his harneſſe, and calleth together all his ſtrength for oppoſition.1632, Edward Reynoldes [i.e., Edward Reynolds], “Verse 2”, in An Explication of the Hundreth and Tenth Psalme: […], London: […] Felix...
- Buckle this harness on, that, being armed, / I may defend the entrance.1805, Robert Southey, “Canto XVI”, in Madoc, London: […] [F]or Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, and A[rchibald] Constable and Co, […], by...
- Out he pulls his pedigree, on he buckles his sword, gives his beaver a brush, and cocks it in the face of all creation.1822 May 29, [Walter Scott], chapter XII, in The Fortunes of Nigel. […], volume III (in English), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.]...
Synonyms of buckle
Antonyms
Forms of buckle
| Noun | |
|---|---|
| plural | buckles |
| Verb | |
| third-person singular present | buckles |
| present participle | buckling |
| past participle | buckled |
| past | buckled |
| second-person singular present (archaic) | bucklest |
| second-person singular past (archaic) | buckledst |
| third-person singular present (archaic) | buckleth |
| Proper noun | |
| plural | Buckles |
Origin of buckle
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, noun sense 2 (“great conflict or struggle”) is probably derived from verb etymology 1, verb 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, verb 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.
Origin uncertain. Probably from Middle English bukklen, bokelen (“to arch the body”), from Middle French boucler (“to bulge”, literally “to take the shape of a shield boss”), perhaps from the same ultimate origin as Etymology 1 above, or perhaps related to Middle Low German bockelen (“to bang out curves in metal”), German buckeln (“to bend over, hunch”). In some senses, possibly from buck (“to bend, yield, buckle”) + -le (frequentative suffix).
Words formed from buckle
Phrases with buckle
Words that rhyme with buckle
Questions about buckle
- What does buckle mean?
- Buckle means 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.
- What is buckle in Hindi?
- Buckle in Hindi is बकसुआ (baksuā). See Buckle meaning in Hindi.
- How do you use buckle in a sentence?
- My uncle furthermore remarked that it wore high heeled shoes, after an ancient fashion, with paste or diamond buckles, that sparkled as though they were alive.
- What part of speech is buckle?
- Buckle can be a noun, a verb or a proper noun.
- How do you pronounce buckle?
- Buckle is pronounced /ˈbʌkəl/.
- What is the plural of buckle?
- The plural of buckle is buckles.
Words near buckle in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: buckle (page history and authors); Buckle (page history and authors); buckle (Tamil Wiktionary) (page history and authors); buckle (Marathi, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license); بکسہ (Urdu) (page history and authors); buckle (Bengali Wiktionary) (page history and authors); buckle (Telugu, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license); buckle (Malayalam Wiktionary) (page history and authors); buckle (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors); buckle (Punjabi, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license); buckle (Gujarati, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license); buckle (Odia, IndicTrans2 machine translation) (model and license). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-us-buckle.ogg.
Cite this entry: “buckle.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/buckle. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.