bustle

/ˈbʌsəl/

/ˈbʌsəl/

Other forms: bustling; bustled; bustles

A flurry of activity and commotion is often referred to as bustle. If you want to see true bustle in action, just walk through Times Square in New York during lunch hour.

If it's busy, energetic or moving about at a rapid pace, then it's bustling. Word historians think bustle might stem from an Old Norse word meaning "to prepare." However, it's probably easier to remember bustle by the synonym it's often used with — hustle, as in "the hustle and bustle of a big city."

Definitions of bustle

1. verb

   move or cause to move energetically or busily
   “The cheerleaders bustled about excitingly before their performance”

   synonyms: bustle about, hustle, hustle and bustle

   type of:

   move

   move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
2. noun

   a rapid active commotion
   synonyms: ado, flurry, fuss, hustle, hustle and bustle, stir

   type of:

   commotion, din, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, tumult

   the act of making a noisy disturbance
3. noun

   a framework worn at the back below the waist for giving fullness to a woman's skirt
   type of:

   framework

   a structure supporting or containing something