Origin of buck

2
1855–60; verbal use of buck1, influenced in some senses by buck3

British Dictionary definitions for buck for (1 of 5)

buck 1
/ (bʌk) /

noun

verb

See also buck up

Derived forms of buck

bucker, noun

Word Origin for buck

Old English bucca he-goat; related to Old Norse bukkr, Old High German bock, Old Irish bocc

British Dictionary definitions for buck for (2 of 5)

buck 2
/ (bʌk) /

noun

US, Canadian and Australian informal a dollar
Southern African informal a rand
a fast buck easily gained money
bang for one's buck See bang 1 (def. 15)

Word Origin for buck

C19: of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for buck for (3 of 5)

buck 3
/ (bʌk) /

noun

gymnastics a type of vaulting horse
US and Canadian a stand for timber during sawing Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): sawhorse

verb

(tr) US and Canadian to cut (a felled or fallen tree) into lengths

Word Origin for buck

C19: short for sawbuck

British Dictionary definitions for buck for (4 of 5)

buck 4
/ (bʌk) /

noun

poker a marker in the jackpot to remind the winner of some obligation when his turn comes to deal
pass the buck informal to shift blame or responsibility onto another
the buck stops here informal the ultimate responsibility lies here

Word Origin for buck

C19: probably from buckhorn knife, placed before a player in poker to indicate that he was the next dealer

British Dictionary definitions for buck for (5 of 5)

Buck
/ (bʌk) /

noun

Pearl S (ydenstricker). 1892–1973, US novelist, noted particularly for her novel of Chinese life The Good Earth (1931): Nobel prize for literature 1938

Idioms and Phrases with buck for (1 of 2)

buck for

Strive for, aim for, as in She's bucking for Editor of the Year. Strongly associated with seeking a promotion in the military, this expression originated in the late 1800s and is now applied more widely.

Idioms and Phrases with buck for (2 of 2)

buck