Bustle Definition

bŭsəl
bustled, bustles, bustling
verb
bustled, bustles, bustling
To move or cause to move energetically and busily.
American Heritage
To hurry busily or with much fuss and bother.
Webster's New World

To teem or abound (usually followed by with); to exhibit an energetic and active abundance (of a thing). See also bustle with.

The train station was bustling with commuters.
Wiktionary
noun
bustles
Busy and noisy activity; commotion.
Webster's New World
A frame or pad to support and expand the fullness of the back of a woman's skirt.
American Heritage
A framework or padding formerly worn at the back by women to puff out the skirt.
Webster's New World
(computing) A cover to protect and hide the back panel of a computer or other office machine.
Wiktionary
Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Bustle

Noun

Singular:
bustle
Plural:
bustles

Origin of Bustle

  • Possibly variant of obsolete buskle frequentative of busk to prepare oneself from Old Norse būask reflexive of būa to prepare bheuə- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old Norse búask (“to prepare oneself”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Origin unknown

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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