- buckle
- bucklebuckle1 [buk′əl]n.[ME bokel, a buckle, boss of a shield < OFr bocle < LL bucula, beaver, shield < L buccula, cheek strap of a helmet, dim. of bucca, cheek: see BUCCAL]1. a clasp on one end of a strap or belt for fastening the other end in place2. a clasplike ornament, as for shoes3. a clasp on a strap that fits into a matching part on a post, another strap, etc. thereby securing the strapvt.buckled, bucklingto fasten or join with a bucklevi.1. to be fastened or joined by a buckle2. Obs. to engage in a struggle; grapple——————☆ buckle downto apply oneself energetically; set to work with effortbuckle2 [buk′əl]vt., vi.buckled, buckling [ME bokelen, to arch the body < bokel, buckle; prob. infl. by OFr bocler, to bulge < bocle: see BUCKLE1]to bend, warp, or crumple, as under pressure or in intense heatn.a distortion caused by buckling; bend, bulge, kink, etc.——————buckle underto give in; yield; submit
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.