truckle

[ truhk-uhl ]

noun

1. truckle bed.
2. a pulley.

verb (used without object)

, truck·led, truck·ling.

1. to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely (usually followed by to ):

   Don't truckle to unreasonable demands.

   Synonyms: kowtow, concede, bow, grovel

truckle

¹

/ ˈtrʌkəl /

noun

1. a small wheel; caster
2. a small barrel-shaped cheese

verb

1. intr to roll on truckles
2. tr to push (a piece of furniture) along on truckles

truckle

²

/ ˈtrʌkəl /

verb

1. intrusually foll byto to yield weakly; give in

Derived Forms

• ˈtruckler, noun

Other Words From

• truckler noun
• truckling·ly adverb
• un·truckled adjective
• un·truckling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of truckle¹

First recorded in 1375–1425 truckle fordef 2; truckle def 1 was first recorded in 1630–40; truckle def 3 in 1665–75; late Middle English noun trocle, trokel “sheave, roller,” from Anglo-French, from Latin trochlea; the verb is a special use of obsolete truckle “to sleep on a truckle bed” (because such beds were stored underneath a standard bed); trochlea

Word History and Origins

Origin of truckle¹

C15 trokel , from Anglo-Norman trocle , from Latin trochlea sheaf of a pulley; see trochlea

Origin of truckle²

C17: from obsolete truckle to sleep in a truckle bed; see truckle ²

Example Sentences

Martin stepped towards a low truckle-bed on which lay the emaciated form of a woman covered with a scanty and ragged quilt.

From Project Gutenberg

This vain, haughty, and imperious Minister expected every one shou'd truckle to him.

From Project Gutenberg

Looking in, I saw a lighted candle on a table, a bench, and a mattress on a truckle bedstead.

From Project Gutenberg

When I came to myself I was lying upon a truckle-bed, in a bare, half-furnished room.

From Project Gutenberg

A truckle-bed for the children or chamber servants was pushed under the principal bed by day.

From Project Gutenberg