bugle

¹ American  

[byoo-guhl] / ˈbyu gəl /

noun

1. a brass wind instrument resembling a cornet and sometimes having keys or valves, used typically for sounding military signals.

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verb (used without object)

bugled, bugling

1. to sound a bugle.

2. (of bull elks) to utter a rutting call.

verb (used with object)

bugled, bugling

1. to call by or with a bugle.

   to bugle reveille.

bugle ² American  

[byoo-guhl] / ˈbyu gəl /

noun

1. ajuga.

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bugle ³ American  

[byoo-guhl] / ˈbyu gəl /

noun

1. Also called bugle bead.  a tubular glass bead used for ornamenting dresses.

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adjective

1. Also bugled ornamented with bugles.

bugle ¹ British  

/ ˈbjuːɡəl /

noun

1. music a brass instrument similar to the cornet but usually without valves: used for military fanfares, signal calls, etc

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verb

1. (intr) to play or sound (on) a bugle

bugle ² British  

/ ˈbjuːɡəl /

noun

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

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bugle ³ British  

/ ˈbjuːɡəl /

noun

1. a tubular glass or plastic bead sewn onto clothes for decoration

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Other Word Forms

• bugler noun

Etymology

Origin of bugle¹

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; -cle ¹, cow ¹

Origin of bugle²

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

Origin of bugle³

First recorded in 1570–80; of obscure origin; perhaps an extended sense of bugle ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

City Hall, which dates to the 16th century, toots out a cheerful jazz bugle call several times a day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

Morris held the microphone with both hands like he was blowing on a bugle and urging the crowd to charge.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2025

After a long time, the bugle started going off.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2024

The iconic rose, emblematic open-heart embroidery, and the magnetic close by Naomi Campbell in a sculpted silver bugle bead dress, all converged in a collection that was both homage and evolution.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 1, 2023

There happened to be a Boy Scout drum and bugle corps located in the housing project next to ours.

From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston