a clasp consisting of a rectangular or curved rim with one or more movable tongues, fixed to one end of a belt or strap, used for fastening to the other end of the same strap or to another strap.
any similar contrivance used for such purposes.
an ornament of metal, beads, etc., of similar appearance.
a bend, bulge, or kink, as in a board or saw blade.
verb (used with object),buck·led,buck·ling.
to fasten with a buckle or buckles: Buckle your seat belt.
to shrivel, by applying heat or pressure; bend; curl.
to prepare (oneself) for action; apply (oneself) vigorously to something.
to bend, warp, or cause to give way suddenly, as with heat or pressure.
verb (used without object),buck·led,buck·ling.
to close or fasten with a buckle: Grandmother always wore shoes that buckled.
to prepare oneself or apply oneself: The student buckled to the lesson.
to bend, warp, bulge, or collapse: The bridge buckled in the storm.
to yield, surrender, or give way to another (often followed by under): She refused to take the medicine, but buckled under when the doctor told her to.
Verb Phrases
buckle down,to set to work with vigor; concentrate on one's work: He was by nature a daydreamer and found it hard to buckle down.
buckle up,to fasten one's belt, seat belt, or buckles: She won't start the car until we've all buckled up.
Origin of buckle
1300–50; Middle English bocle<Anglo-French bo(u)cle, bucle<Latin buc(c)ula cheekpiece (of a helmet), strip of wood, etc., resembling a cheekpiece, equivalent to bucc(a) cheek + -ula-ule