I. ˈbək noun
( plural bucks )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bucca stag, he-goat; akin to Old High German boc he-goat, Middle Irish bocc
Date: before 12th century
1. or plural buck : a male animal ; especially : a male deer or antelope
2.
a. : a male human being : man
b. : a dashing fellow : dandy
3. or plural buck : antelope
4.
a. : buckskin ; also : an article (as a shoe) made of buckskin
b.
(1) : dollar 3b
(2) : a sum of money especially to be gained
make a quick buck
also : money — usually used in plural
5.
[short for sawbuck sawhorse]
a. : a supporting rack or frame
b. : a short thick leather-covered block for gymnastic vaulting
II. verb
Date: 1750
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : butt I
b. : oppose , resist
buck ing the system
2. : to throw (as a rider) by bucking
3. : to charge into (as a headwind)
4.
a. : to pass especially from one person to another
b. : to move or load (as heavy objects) especially with mechanical equipment
intransitive verb
1. of a horse or mule : to spring into the air with the back arched
2. : to charge against something (as an obstruction)
3.
a. : to move or react jerkily
b. : to refuse assent : balk
4. : to strive for advancement sometimes without regard to ethical behavior
buck ing for a promotion
• buck·er noun
III. noun
Date: circa 1877
: an act or instance of bucking
IV. noun
Etymology: short for earlier buckhorn knife
Date: 1865
1. : an object formerly used in poker to mark the next player to deal ; broadly : a token used as a mark or reminder
2. : responsibility — used especially in the phrases pass the buck and the buck stops here
V. adjective
Etymology: probably from buck (I)
Date: 1918
: of the lowest grade within a military category
a buck private
VI. adverb
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1928
: stark , completely
buck naked