bouche

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈbüsh
plural -s
1
obsolete : an allowance of food and drink for retinue in a royal or noble household
2
: a slit in the edge of a medieval shield for a sword blade or a rounded opening for the shaft of a lance

bouche

2 of 3

noun (2)

"
plural -s

bouché

3 of 3

adjective

bou·​ché
(ˈ)bü¦shā
: stopped with the hand
used as a direction in music in horn playing

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Middle French, literally, mouth, from Latin bucca cheek, mouth

Noun (2)

probably alteration (influenced by French boucher to stop up) of bush (bushing)

Adjective

French, from past participle of boucher to stop up, from Old French, from (assumed) Old French bouche bunch, sheaf (whence Middle French bouche), perhaps of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German busc bush, forest

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near bouche

Cite this Entry

“Bouche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bouche. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!