\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

\Buc"kle\ (b[u^]k"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.