# buckle

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbʌkəl/ · frequency rank #14,910

## Definitions
1. A metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike through which a belt or strap is passed and penetrated by the tongue or spike, in order to fasten the ends of the belt together or to secure the strap to something else.
2. A metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike through which a belt or strap is passed and penetrated by the tongue or spike, in order to fasten the ends of the belt together or to secure the strap to something else.
3. A metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike through which a belt or strap is passed and penetrated by the tongue or spike, in order to fasten the ends of the belt together or to secure the strap to something else.
4. A great conflict or struggle.

## Etymology
The noun is derived from Middle English bokel (“spiked metal ring for fastening; ornamental clasp; boss of a shield; a shield, buckler; (figurative) means of defence”) [and other forms], from Old French boucle, bocle (“spiked metal ring for fastening; boss of a shield; a shield”) [and other forms], from Latin buccula (“cheek strap of a helmet; boss of a shield”) (from bucca (“soft part of the cheek”)).
Noun etymology 1 sense 2 (“great conflict or struggle”) is probably derived from verb etymology 1 sense 1.2.1 (“to apply (oneself) to, or prepare (oneself) for, a task or work”).
The verb is derived from Middle English bokelen, bukelen (“to fasten (something) with a buckle or clasp; to fasten, make fast; to wrap; to arch the body”) [and other forms], from bokel (noun) (see above) + -en (suffix forming the infinitive of verbs).
In verb etymology 1 sense 1.2.1, the sense “to apply (oneself) to, or prepare (oneself) for, a task or work” was derived from the now obsolete sense “to equip (oneself) for a battle, etc.”, and originally alluded to armour being buckled on to the body.

## Easily confused with
- **Bucks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buckle-vs-bucks)
- **burke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buckle-vs-burke)
- **bucky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buckle-vs-bucky)
- **bugle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buckle-vs-bugle)
- **bundle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buckle-vs-bundle)
- **bustle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buckle-vs-bustle)
- **bumble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buckle-vs-bumble)
- **Buckley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buckle-vs-buckley)
- **buckles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buckle-vs-buckles)
- **Buckner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buckle-vs-buckner)
- **buck** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buck-vs-buckle)
- **bubble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bubble-vs-buckle)
- **bucket** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bucket-vs-buckle)
- **buckeye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/buckeye-vs-buckle)

## Common misspellings (9)
`bbuckle`, `bcukle`, `bucckle`, `buckel`, `buckkle`, `bucklle`, `buclke`, `bukcle`, `ubckle`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/buckle