I. ˈbəkəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English bocle, from Middle French bocle, boucle boss of a shield, buckle, from Latin buccula small cheek, diminutive of bucca cheek — more at pock
1. : a fastening for two loose ends (as of a belt or strap) attached to one and holding the other by a catch
2. : an ornamental device that suggests a buckle in form but often does not act as a fastening and that is used especially on women's garments and shoes
3. archaic
a. : a curl especially when crisp
b. : the state of being in curl
4. : one of the thin openwork plates of lead sometimes shaped like buckles that are exposed to the action of carbon dioxide in the manufacture of white lead
5. or buckle joint : clamp connection
II. verb
( buckled ; buckled ; buckling -k(ə)liŋ, -lēŋ ; buckles )
Etymology: Middle English boclen, from Middle French boucler, from boucie
transitive verb
1.
a. : to fasten or make fast with a buckle — often used with on
he buckled on his spurs
b. : to fasten the buckle of
be sure to buckle your belt
2. : to prepare (as oneself) for action : apply intensively and with vigor
Redworth buckled himself to the task — George Meredith
3. chiefly Scotland : marry
4. : to cause to bend, give way, or crumple
changing stresses buckled the land surface into a series of ridges that now form the main coastal range
buckled the car fender
5. : to make (hair) curly : crimp
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to equip oneself or make ready for a contest or an undertaking by or as if by buckling on armor
b. : to apply oneself ardently or with vigor : strive — often used with down
he'll finish if he buckles down to the job
they were advised to buckle down
2. obsolete : to join in combat : contend , grapple — often used with with
3. chiefly Scotland : marry
4. : to close or become confined with a buckle
this dress won't buckle
5. : to bend, heave, warp, or kink usually under the influence of some external agency
the pavement buckled in the heat
his knees buckled with exhaustion
— often used with up
the floor buckled up under the weight of so many people
6. : to become altered or distorted usually permanently by buckling
the panels did not buckle under pressure
broadly : to fall to pieces or into a heap : crumble , crumple , collapse
the balloon buckled together
the buckling imperialisms of western Europe — C.W.de Kiewiet
— often used with up
7.
a. : to give way : yield — usually used with under
less devout creatures … would have buckled under this severe test of faith — Paul Willen
b. now dialect England : to be or become subservient : cringe
III. noun
( -s )
1. : a product of buckling : bend , warp , fold , kink : as
a. : a small fold in land
b. : one of the wrinkles that develop at the top edge of the leaves of a book near the backbone margin during folding
c. : a depression or flaw on the surface of a casting caused by fault or failure of the mold (as from inadequate venting)
2. : a machine for folding printed sheets of paper