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bugle

1
[ byoo-guhl ]
/ ˈbyu gəl /
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noun
a brass wind instrument resembling a cornet and sometimes having keys or valves, used typically for sounding military signals.
verb (used without object), bu·gled, bu·gling.
to sound a bugle.
(of bull elks) to utter a rutting call.
verb (used with object), bu·gled, bu·gling.
to call by or with a bugle: to bugle reveille.
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Origin of bugle

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bugle, bugel, bewgal “wild ox, buffalo, water buffalo, drinking horn, (instrument) horn, bugle,” from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin būculus “young bull, bullock, young ox,” equivalent to bū- variant stem of bōs “cow, ox, bull” + -culus diminutive noun suffix; see origin at -cle1, cow1

OTHER WORDS FROM bugle

bugler, noun

Other definitions for bugle (2 of 3)

bugle2
[ byoo-guhl ]
/ ˈbyu gəl /

noun

Origin of bugle

2
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English bugle, bugil, buygel, bewgle, from Old French, from Late Latin būgillo the name of the plant; further origin uncertain

Other definitions for bugle (3 of 3)

bugle3
[ byoo-guhl ]
/ ˈbyu gəl /

noun
Also called bugle bead . a tubular glass bead used for ornamenting dresses.
adjective
Also bu·gled . ornamented with bugles.

Origin of bugle

3
First recorded in 1570–80; of obscure origin; perhaps an extended sense of bugle1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bugle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bugle (1 of 3)

bugle1
/ (ˈbjuːɡəl) /

noun
music a brass instrument similar to the cornet but usually without valves: used for military fanfares, signal calls, etc
verb
(intr) to play or sound (on) a bugle

Derived forms of bugle

bugler, noun

Word Origin for bugle

C14: short for bugle horn ox horn (musical instrument), from Old French bugle, from Latin būculus young bullock, from bōs ox

British Dictionary definitions for bugle (2 of 3)

bugle2
/ (ˈbjuːɡəl) /

noun
any of several Eurasian plants of the genus Ajuga, esp A. reptans, having small blue or white flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)Also called: bugleweed See also ground pine

Word Origin for bugle

C13: from Late Latin bugula, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for bugle (3 of 3)

bugle3
/ (ˈbjuːɡəl) /

noun
a tubular glass or plastic bead sewn onto clothes for decoration

Word Origin for bugle

C16: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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