buck

buck

buck¹ [buk]

n.

[ME bukke < OE bucca, male goat < IE base * bhuĝo- > Ger bock, Du bok, Ir boc ]

1. pl. bucks or buck a male deer, antelope, goat, rabbit, etc.: see DOE

☆ 2. the act of bucking

3.

a) BUCKSKIN

b) [pl.] casual oxford shoes, originally of buckskin, now usually of light-colored suede, nubuck, etc.

4. Informal a young man, esp. one who is bold, lively, vigorous, etc.: sometimes a contemptuous or patronizing term as applied to a young black or North American Indian man

5. Archaic a fop or dandy

vi.

☆ 1. to rear upward quickly and descend with the back arched and forelegs stiff, as in an attempt to throw off a rider: said of a horse, mule, etc.

2. to plunge forward with lowered head, as a goat

☆ 3. Informal to resist something as if plunging against it

☆ 4. Informal to move jerkily: said as of a car

vt.

☆ 1. to dislodge or throw by bucking

☆ 2. Informal to resist stubbornly

adj.

1. male

☆ 2. of the lowest military rating [buck private, buck sergeant]

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☆ buck for

Slang to work eagerly or too eagerly for (a promotion, etc.)

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☆ buck up

Informal to cheer up

bucker

n.

buck² [buk]

n.

[< SAWBUCK]

1. Now Rare a sawbuck; sawhorse

2. a small gymnastics horse used especially for training

☆ buck³ [buk ]

n.

[< ? BUCKSKIN, used as a medium of exchange]

1. Poker Historical a counter placed before a player as a reminder to deal next, etc.

2. Slang a dollar

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pass the buck

Informal to evade blame or responsibility by trying to pass it to someone else