truckle

[ truhk-uhl ]

noun

1. truckle bed.
2. a pulley.

verb (used without object)

, truck·led, truck·ling.

1. to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely (usually followed by to ):

   Don't truckle to unreasonable demands.

   Synonyms: kowtow, concede, bow, grovel

truckle

¹

/ ˈtrʌkəl /

noun

1. a small wheel; caster
2. a small barrel-shaped cheese

verb

1. intr to roll on truckles
2. tr to push (a piece of furniture) along on truckles

truckle

²

/ ˈtrʌkəl /

verb

1. intrusually foll byto to yield weakly; give in

Derived Forms

• ˈtruckler, noun

Other Words From

• truckler noun
• truckling·ly adverb
• un·truckled adjective
• un·truckling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of truckle¹

First recorded in 1375–1425 truckle fordef 2; truckle def 1 was first recorded in 1630–40; truckle def 3 in 1665–75; late Middle English noun trocle, trokel “sheave, roller,” from Anglo-French, from Latin trochlea; the verb is a special use of obsolete truckle “to sleep on a truckle bed” (because such beds were stored underneath a standard bed); trochlea

Word History and Origins

Origin of truckle¹

C15 trokel , from Anglo-Norman trocle , from Latin trochlea sheaf of a pulley; see trochlea

Origin of truckle²

C17: from obsolete truckle to sleep in a truckle bed; see truckle ²

Example Sentences

“A criminal could hide tonnes away and then pass them slowly, truckle by truckle, into supply chains,” says Ben Lambourne of the online retailer Pong Cheese.

From BBC

The hundreds of truckles of cheese were made up of three artisan cheddars - Hafod Welsh, Westcombe and Pitchfork - which are all award-winning and have a high monetary value.

From BBC

That Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell truckled to Trump by endorsing him is further testament to the hollow men that are leading the GOP.

From Salon

“I don’t truckle, and I hate being patronized as much as you do!” returned Amy indignantly, for the two still jangled when such questions arose.

From Literature

By appearing to truckle to Trump’s political demands, Hahn is making it impossible to trust the FDA’s judgment on COVID-19 vaccines.

From Los Angeles Times