buck

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched

   The young filly bucked defensively.

2. 2
   verb

   to move quickly and violently

   I bucked from side to side to avoid the oncoming attacker.

3. 3
   verb

   to resist or not comply

   You should buck the trend if you don't like it.

4. 4
   verb

   to strive with determination

   John is bucking for a promotion

5. 5
   noun

   An antelope of either sex; compare with Afrikaans bok.

   There are all kinds of game in the valley, and you are unlucky if you do not see a giraffe or an ostrich, or at least a herd of buck.

6. 6
   noun

   A young buck; an adventurous, impetuous, dashing, or high-spirited young man.

   Swankey of the Body Guard himself, that dangerous youth, and the greatest buck of all the Indian army now on leave, was one day discovered by Major Dobbin tête-à-tête with Amelia, and describing the sport of pig-sticking to her with great humour and eloquence […]

7. 7
   noun

   A fop or dandy.

   This pusillanimous creature thinks himself, and would be thought, a buck.

8. 8
   noun

   A black or Native American man.

   As we crossed Blackwell's Island a limousine passed us, driven by a white chauffeur, in which sat three modish negroes, two bucks and a girl.

Etymology

* For both the English surname and given name, originally a nickname for someone who resembled a buck. * Also as an English topographic surname, from Middle English buk (modern beech). * As a German and Dutch surname, shortened from Burkhard, compare Burkhart. * As a north German and Danish surname, from Middle Low German bûk (“belly”), from Old Saxon būk, from Proto-West Germanic *būk, from Proto-Germanic *būkaz. Compare Bauch. * Also as a German and Dutch surname, variant of Bock. * Also as a German surname, variant of Puck. * As a Germanized Lower Sorbian surname, from buk (“beech”).