buckle



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Buckle \Buc"kle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Buckled; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Buckling.] [OE. boclen, F. boucler. See Buckle, n.]
   1. To fasten or confine with a buckle or buckles; as, to
      buckle a harness.
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   2. To bend; to cause to kink, or to become distorted.
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   3. To prepare for action; to apply with vigor and
      earnestness; -- formerly, generally used reflexively, but
      by mid 20th century, usually used with down; -- as, the
      programmers buckled down and worked late hours to finish
      the project in time for the promised delivery date.
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            Cartwright buckled himself to the employment.
                                                  --Fuller.
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   4. To join in marriage. [Scot.] --Sir W. Scott.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Buckle \Buc"kle\, n. [OE. bocle buckle, boss of a shield, OF.
   bocle, F. boucle, boss of a shield, ring, fr. L. buccula a
   little cheek or mouth, dim. of bucca cheek; this boss or knob
   resembling a cheek.]
   1. A device, usually of metal, consisting of a frame with one
      more movable tongues or catches, used for fastening things
      together, as parts of dress or harness, by means of a
      strap passing through the frame and pierced by the tongue.
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   2. A distortion bulge, bend, or kink, as in a saw blade or a
      plate of sheet metal. --Knight.
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   3. A curl of hair, esp. a kind of crisp curl formerly worn;
      also, the state of being curled.
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            Earlocks in tight buckles on each side of a lantern
            face.                                 --W. Irving.
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            Lets his wig lie in buckle for a whole half year.
                                                  --Addison.
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   4. A contorted expression, as of the face. [R.]
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            'Gainst nature armed by gravity,
            His features too in buckle see.       --Churchill.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Buckle \Buc"kle\ (b[u^]k"k'l), v. i.
   1. To bend permanently; to become distorted; to bow; to curl;
      to kink.
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            Buckled with the heat of the fire like parchment.
                                                  --Pepys.
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   2. To bend out of a true vertical plane, as a wall.
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   3. To yield; to give way; to cease opposing. [Obs.]
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            The Dutch, as high as they seem, do begin to buckle.
                                                  --Pepys.
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   4. To enter upon some labor or contest; to join in close
      fight; to struggle; to contend.
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            The bishop was as able and ready to buckle with the
            Lord Protector as he was with him.    --Latimer.
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            In single combat thou shalt buckle with me. --Shak.
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   To buckle to, to bend to; to engage with zeal.
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            To make our sturdy humor buckle thereto. --Barrow.
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            Before buckling to my winter's work.  --J. D.
                                                  Forbes.
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