bustle

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To move around quickly and busily.

   Waiters bustled between the crowded tables.

2. 2
   noun

   Noisy, energetic activity.

   She loved the bustle of the busy market.

3. 3
   verb

   To be full of busy activity or people.

   The train station was bustling with commuters.

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”).

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