What does bucktooth mean?
Bucktooth is an informal noun for a prominent upper front tooth that projects noticeably beyond the line of the other teeth, or for a conspicuous set of such teeth. It is especially associated with protruding upper incisors in people, though animal writers and speakers may use it for similarly conspicuous teeth. In conversation, the word often has a humorous or mildly teasing tone and can soften a description that might otherwise seem critical. It is not a clinical dental term and should not be confused with an overbite, which describes the relationship between the upper and lower teeth more generally. The expression is usually paired with “buck-toothed” when functioning as an adjective, as in “a buck-toothed grin.” Although a bucktooth may be considered unattractive by some, many uses are affectionate or playful, and the word remains a vivid description of a memorable facial feature. Familiar uses also appear in comic writing, where exaggerated teeth can add personality or humor.
nounA tooth that projects conspicuously beyond the line of the others, especially an upper front tooth; by extension, a conspicuous set of such upper front teeth.
- A conspicuously projecting tooth, especially an upper front tooth or incisor.
- A set of prominent, projecting upper front teeth considered collectively.
"He tried to hide his bucktooth whenever he smiled."
"He tried to hide his bucktooth whenever he smiled."
"The cartoonist exaggerated the character's bucktooth to make the smile look mischievous."
An irregular plural, commonly used for a set of prominent upper front teeth.
"The child was self-conscious about her uneven buckteeth."
Before it became a label for people, bucktooth was a zoological way of describing conspicuous animal teeth.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bucktooth
The term is an English compound formed from “buck” and “tooth.” The adjective “buck-toothed” appeared in animal descriptions in the early nineteenth century, and the noun subsequently came to denote a prominent upper incisor and, by extension, conspicuous human front teeth. The two elements of the compound have independent English histories.
Related word forms
How bucktooth is actually used
Informal and sometimes teasing; it can sound affectionate among friends but insensitive when used to ridicule someone's appearance. It may refer to humans or animals.
Easily confused with bucktooth
An overbite describes the arrangement in which the upper teeth project ahead of the lower teeth, whereas bucktooth informally emphasizes a conspicuously projecting upper front tooth or set of teeth.