bustle
pronunciation
How to pronounce bustle in British English:
UK [ˈbʌsl]
How to pronounce bustle in American English:
US [ˈbʌsəl]
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- Noun:
- a rapid bustling commotion
- a framework worn at the back below the waist for giving fullness to a woman's skirt
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- Verb:
- move or cause to move energetically or busily
Word Origin
- bustle (v.)
- "be active," 1570s (bustling "noisy or excited activity" is from early 15c.), frequentative of Middle English bresten "to rush, break," from Old English bersten (see burst (v.)), influenced by Old Norse buask "to make oneself ready" (see busk (v.)), or from busk (v.) via a frequentative form buskle. Related: Bustled; bustling; bustler.
- bustle (n.2)
- "padding in a skirt," 1788, of uncertain origin, perhaps from German Buschel "bunch, pad," or it might be a special use of bustle (n.1) with reference to "rustling motion." BUSTLE. A pad stuffed with cotton, feathers, bran, &c., worn by ladies for the double purpose of giving a greater rotundity or prominence to the hips, and setting off the smallness of the waist. [Bartlett, "Dictionary of Americanisms," 1848]
- bustle (n.1)
- "activity, stir, fuss, commotion," 1630s, from bustle (v.).
Example
- 1. Amid the bustle there is glee .
- 2. The bustle is devoted to winning 45 by-elections due to take place on april 1st .
- 3. Dongguan 's financial and high-tech industrial development zone looks like a verdant potemkin village , in contrast to the bustle of its grimy factory neighbourhoods .
- 4. Amid the bustle and crumbling masonry of downtown yangon , there is one building that likes to keep up appearances : myanmar 's only synagogue .
- 5. After the hustle and bustle of bangkok , the island of phuket has my favourite hotel in the world the amanpuri .