bustle

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) An excited activity; a stir.
2. (countable) A cover to protect and hide the back panel of a computer or other office machine.
3. (countable, historical) A frame worn underneath a woman's skirt, typically only protruding from the rear as opposed to the earlier more circular hoops.

Verb

1. To move busily and energetically with fussiness (often followed by about).
2. To teem or abound (usually followed by with); to exhibit an energetic and active abundance (of a thing).
3. (transitive) To push around, to importune.

Synonyms

fuss

hurry

commotion

stir

confusion

hustle

ado

tumult

uproar

noise

activity

flurry

rush

pother

trouble

bustle about

turmoil

prosperity

hubbub

crowd

haste

disturbance

potter about

hasten

scurry

vanity

coil

be busy

agitation

fluster

clamour

hurry about

sizzle

row

sputter

disorder

make a fuss

din

crowding

buzz

crawl

busying

babel

contend

consternation

hastiness

confuse

bustling

anxious

goings-on

Translations

trambusto

φασαρία

affairement

acele

viavai

bullicio

remue-ménage

ajetreo

andirivieni

σύγχυση

βιάζομαι

θόρυβος

κινούμαι

πηγαινοέρχομαι

βιασύνη

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbʌsəl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: bustlen

Cognate with English: buskle

Cognate with Icelandic: bustla

In summary

From Middle English bustlen, bustelen, bostlen, perhaps an alteration of *busklen (> Modern English buskle), a frequentative of Middle English busken (“to prepare; make ready”), from Old Norse búask (“to prepare oneself”); or alternatively from a frequentative form of Middle English busten, bisten (“to buffet; pummel; dash; beat”) + -le. Compare also Icelandic bustla (“to splash; bustle”).