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
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.
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.