An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Buckel

by Friedrich Kluge

Buckel (1.), m., ‘boss, stud,’ from MidHG. buckel, m., f., ‘boss of a shield’; from OFr. bocle (whence Fr. boucle, ‘buckle’), which is based on Lat. buccula, ‘beaver of a helmet, boss.’

Buckel (2.), Puckel, m., ‘back, hump,’ from MidHG. buckel. The Swiss bukel (not *buχel) points to a primary form bugg- (see biegen, Bühel, Bügel), not directly to bücken, from biegen (root bug). Buckel is lit. ‘a curve, bend.’