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.
2. A distortion bulge, bend, or kink, as in a saw
blade or a plate of sheet metal. Knight.
3. A curl of hair, esp. a kind of crisp curl
formerly worn; also, the state of being curled.
Earlocks in tight buckles on each side of a lantern
face.
W. Irving.
Lets his wig lie in buckle for a whole half year.
Addison.
4. A contorted expression, as of the face.
[R.]
'Gainst nature armed by gravity,
His features too in buckle see.
Churchill.
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.
2. To bend; to cause to kink, or to become
distorted.
3. To prepare for action; to apply with vigor and
earnestness; -- generally used reflexively.
Cartwright buckled himself to the employment.
Fuller.
4. To join in marriage. [Scot.] Sir W.
Scott.
Buc"kle (bŭk"k'l), v. i.
1. To bend permanently; to become distorted; to bow;
to curl; to kink.
Buckled with the heat of the fire like parchment.
Pepys.
2. To bend out of a true vertical plane, as a
wall.
3. To yield; to give way; to cease opposing.
[Obs.]
The Dutch, as high as they seem, do begin to
buckle.
Pepys.
4. To enter upon some labor or contest; to join in
close fight; to struggle; to contend.
The bishop was as able and ready to buckle with the
Lord Protector as he was with him.
Latimer.
In single combat thou shalt buckle with me.
Shak.
To buckle to, to bend to; to engage with
zeal.
To make our sturdy humor buckle thereto.
Barrow.
Before buckling to my winter's work.
J. D. Forbes.
