An instrument made of some kind of metal, for fastening together certain parts of dress, as the straps and bands, as in a harness. The forms are various, but it consists of a ring or rim with a chape and tongue.

A curl, or a state of being curled or crisped, as hair.

In coats of arms, a token of the surety, faith and service of the bearer.

To fasten with a buckle, or buckles.

To prepare for action; a metaphor, taken from buckling on armor.

To join in battle.

To confine or limit . A span buckles in his sum of age.

To bend; to bow; as, to buckle under life. To buckle to, to bend to; to apply with vigor; to engage with zeal. To buckle in, to close in; to embrace or seize the body, as in a scuffle; a popular use in America. To buckle with, to encounter with embrace; to join in close combat.