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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BUCKLE, Buckl, Bukkle, Bukkel, v., tr. and intr. Sc. usages and forms of St.Eng. buckle.

‡1. (1) To join in marriage; to be joined in marriage, sometimes followed by wi' or too (= to); (2) to partner. Gen.Sc.(1) Sc. 1724–1727 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1733) 28:
An ye wad gi's a bit land, Wee'd buckle us e'en the gither.Sc. 1832–1846 Royal Union in Whistle-Binkie (3rd Series) 9:
Woo'd an' wedded an' a', Buckled an' bedded an' a'.Abd. 1768 A. Ross What ails the lasses at me? iv.:
But nane o' them fand I wad fall in Or say they wad buckle wi me.Dmb. 1894 D. MacLeod Past Worthies of Lennox 114:
He had been spoken to anent buckling too on a certain day, at a given hour, a couple who dwelt in the Mill o' Ha'dane.Kcb. 1806 J. Train Poet. Reveries 64:
To her came a rewayl'd draggle, Wha had bury'd wives anew, Ask'd her in a manner legal, Gin she wadna buckle too.(2) Slk. 1829 Hogg Shepherd's Calendar II. i.:
Take her to the top o' the dance, the top o' the table at dinner, and laugh, and sing . . . and if your ain lass disna happen to be unco weel buckled, it is ten to ane she will find an opportunity of offering you her company afore night.

†Comb.: buckle-beggar, buckle-the-beggars, “one who marries others in a clandestine and disorderly manner” (Sc. 1808 Jam.); “a hedge-priest, who pretended to perform the ceremony of marriage” (Sc. 1882 C. Mackay Poetry and Humour Sc. Lang. 39, buckle-beggar).Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel xvii.: 
A hedge-parson, or buckle-beggar.Edb. 1739 Caled. Mercury (15 Oct.): 
They trudged in hither to Mr. - -, Bucklebeggar, and were as regularly married as any Couple he ever set together.Uls. 1902 A. McIlroy Humour of Druid's Island 116:
Ye werna married properly, Tam, . . . he wasna a minister that tied ye . . . he was just an auld buckle-the-beggars.

2. To dress (Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹ 1936); used only in ne.Sc.Bnff. 1882 W. M. Philip K. MacIntosh's Scholars xv.:
It's a new thing to hear o' fowk in their station . . . haudin sic feastin's and livin' sae braw. Leuk fat wye yon lassies are buckled!Bch. 1928 (per Abd.¹⁵):
Afore she got buckled, he was on nittles, trintlin oot an' in, an' sayin', “Heesht ye, ummon, the geeg's yokit.”

Hence bucklins, clothes; trappings.Abd.¹³ 1910:
Hiv ye gotten on a' yer bucklins?Bch. 1912 (per Abd.¹⁵):
A horse cam rinnin roon on me wi' a' its bucklins on. Aw flong ma creel, an' aff ower the style!

3. To wrap up (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl. s.v. buckl); fasten up. Cf. Bouchled.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
O, just bukkel hit up ony wy.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Buckle thee up well afore thoo goes oot.Rnf. 1792 A. Wilson Watty and Meg (1808) 5:
Up my claes and cash I buckl't, “Bess, for ever fare ye weel.”Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 86: 
Bucklin' his wee finger wi' a cloot.

Hence bucklin's, bandages.Lnk. 1865 J. Hamilton Poems and Sketches 37:
He rave the bucklin's aff his haun'.

Comb.: buckle-comb, “a comb for holding up the hair” (Gall.³ c.1867).

†4. To beat, overcome.Ags. 1826 A. Balfour Highland Mary I. xi.:
Weel, chap on, sir; your horse is gude but mine, I think, wad buckle you in a ten-mile trot.Fif. 1825 Jam.²:
I was fairly buckled wi't.

5. “Ravel or tangle” (Sh. 1913 J. M. Hutcheson W.-L.).Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
Da ku is bukkled intil her tedder.