The etymological root of buckle is found in the Vulgar Latin fibella , which is the diminutive of fibŭla . A buckle is a piece that is used to hold something or as a closure using different types of hooks or clasps.
Generally, buckles have one or more nails that are articulated on a rod. There are buckles on watches , bags, belts, shoes and many other objects. It is important to note that, beyond their specific function, these elements are also used as ornamentation . In the case of clothing and footwear, for example, the usefulness of the buckle was similar to that of the zipper later on, that is, to keep them closed and attached to the body.
For example: “I bought a belt that has the image of a horse on the buckle,” “The buckle on my watch broke and now I can't wear it,” “I think shoes with buckles are very elegant.”
The material with which the buckle of a belt, a bag, a pair of shoes or a watch is made has an impact on the final price of the product. Although the first thing we look at in this type of accessories is not this small part but perhaps, in the case of a bag, its fabric and even the strap with which we must hang it on our shoulders, the most knowledgeable people look for each one to be of great quality.
It can be said that a buckle is an alternative to a pin , a pin or a brooch . In ancient times , buckles were made of ivory, bone or metal and were used in military uniforms and for attaching the saddle. As the centuries went by, buckles with several pins and roller buckles, among others, emerged.
The multi-pin buckles were divided into several parts, each with its specific name, as can be seen below: they consisted of a pin, a latch, a bolt and a nail. Approximately a century later, roller buckles appeared, which are widely used today: the nail is attached to a cylindrical piece that gives it a certain degree of mobility to rotate and pass through a gap and produce the closure once it is closed. returns to the initial position, as occurs in the belts.
The ancient Romans, as well as the ancient Greeks, used the buckle as a clasp, brooch, pin, brooch or safety pin, especially as part of military uniforms to complete the design of cuirasses and sword belts, among others. of the parts of the equipment.
The object used to hold the hair is also called a buckle. In this case, the buckles are clasps that help preserve a hairstyle or prevent the hair from falling on the face and causing discomfort.
Hair clips are often considered as another accessory in the development of style or look. If a woman wears a pink dress, for example, she can wear a buckle of the same color on her head.
In this sense, the buckle is one of those accessories that machismo managed to associate exclusively with women, although in reality many men also use it to keep their hair in order. It is important to remember that anyone can wear long hair, at least in Western cultures such as Latin American countries and Spain, without leaving aside the United States, Italy and France, among others; It is not something exclusive to women and girls.