bustle
1[ buhs-uhl ]
/ ˈbʌs əl /
verb (used without object), bus·tled, bus·tling.
to move or act with a great show of energy (often followed by about): He bustled about cooking breakfast.
to abound or teem with something; display an abundance of something; teem (often followed by with): The office bustled with people and activity.
verb (used with object), bus·tled, bus·tling.
to cause to bustle; hustle.
noun
thriving or energetic activity; stir; ferment.
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Origin of bustle
11615–25; Middle English bustelen to hurry aimlessly along, perhaps akin to Old Norse busla to splash about, bustle
Related formsbus·tler, nounbus·tling·ly, adverbun·bus·tling, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for bustling
British Dictionary definitions for bustling (1 of 2)
bustle
1/ (ˈbʌsəl) /
verb
(when intr , often foll by about) to hurry or cause to hurry with a great show of energy or activity
noun
energetic and noisy activity
Derived Formsbustler, nounbustling, adjective
Word Origin for bustle
C16: probably from obsolete buskle to make energetic preparation, from dialect busk from Old Norse būask to prepare
British Dictionary definitions for bustling (2 of 2)
bustle
2/ (ˈbʌsəl) /
noun
a cushion or a metal or whalebone framework worn by women in the late 19th century at the back below the waist in order to expand the skirt
Word Origin for bustle
C18: of unknown origin
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