Buckle
BUK-uhl
/ˈbʌkəl/
A clasp consisting of a rectangular or curved rim with a hinged pin, used for fastening straps or belts.
Refers to functional hardware used to secure belts, shoes, and luggage, or figuratively to yield under pressure.
The story behind the word. Traces back to Latin 'buccula', the diminutive of 'bucca' (cheek). Originally, a buccula was the cheek-guard on a Roman soldier's helmet. Because this cheek-piece was secured under the chin with a hinged ring-clasp, the clasp itself came to be called a buckle in Old French ('boucle') and late Middle English.
Word relationships
- clasp: A clasp fastens two ends together by hooking or interlocking, whereas a buckle uses a tongue or pin passing through a strap hole.
- unfasten: To release or undo a hardware closure.
Commonly confused with
- button: A button passes through a slit in fabric, whereas a buckle clamps or anchors a strap through a frame.
Word family
- unbuckle (verb): To open or release a buckle.
Collocations
- belt buckle
- brass buckle
- silver buckle
- shoe buckle
Idioms & expressions
- buckle down
- buckle under pressure
Example sentences
- "The polished brass buckle held his leather belt securely at his waist." Sartorial details
- "The bridge girders began to buckle under the intense heat of the industrial fire." Formal prose
Memory hook
Roman soldiers strapped their cheek guards (BUCCA) with a BUCKLE under the chin. From Roman helmet cheek-straps to belt hardware.
When not to use
Do not use to describe flat sewn buttons, zippers, or snap fasteners.
Fun facts
- In 18th-century Europe, diamond and silver shoe buckles were the ultimate status symbol, often costing more than the entire rest of a suit.
Related words
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