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
1First 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, nounOther definitions for bugle (2 of 3)
Origin of bugle
2First 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
3First 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. 2022
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, nounWord 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
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