truckle English · revision 1129

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈtɹʌkəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb comes from ''truckle bed'', a low bed on small wheels,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) in allusion to its use by servants and inferiors or to its lower position.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The noun ''truckle'' “small wheel, pulley” comes from Middle English ''trocle'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|xno|trocle]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|la|trochlea|t=pulley]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from Greek ''trokhós'' “wheel”, from ''trékhein'' “to run”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[trochee]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, a small wheel or pulley (1397 in Barnhart; 1417 in the OED);^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) ''truckle bed'' is from 1459.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb first meant to sleep in a truckle bed (1612–13).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) From 1667 it meant to take a subordinate position,^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) and from 1680 to submit or yield obsequiously, to act servilely.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates the verb in this sense to 1647.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1397 – ''trokell'', a small wheel.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1459 – ''truckle bed''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1612 – verb, to sleep in a truckle bed.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1667 – verb, to take a subordinate position.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1680 – verb, to submit servilely.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To yield or submit tamely and servilely, usually with ''to''; to [[fawn]] or [[kowtow]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small wheel or roller; a [[caster]] or pulley.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[truckle bed]].^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A small barrel-shaped cheese.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[truckler]]

+ * [[trucklingly]]

+ * [[truckle bed]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[trochlea]]

+ * [[trochee]]

+ * [[truck]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''grovel'', ''bow'', ''concede'' and ''kowtow'' as synonyms of the verb.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}