Pronunciation: [bjˈuːɡə͡l] (IPA) 
The word "bugle" is spelled with six letters and pronounced as /ˈbjuːɡ(ə)l/. The "b" and "g" sounds are pronounced simultaneously, followed by a long "u" sound. There is a schwa sound between the "g" and "l" in the second syllable. This word is often associated with a brass musical instrument, played for military purposes or at sporting events. It can also refer to the shape of a horn, often seen in the bugleweed plant.
Bugle can refer to different things depending on the context. As a noun, it generally refers to a brass musical instrument with a cup-shaped mouthpiece and a flared bell. It is similar to a trumpet, but its tubing is more conical, resulting in a mellower and softer tone. Bugles are commonly used in military and marching bands, as well as in traditional cavalry and hunting activities.
In a broader sense, "bugle" can also refer to a loud, resonant sound or call produced by a horn or trumpet. This use of the term typically refers to a specific type of call, such as the haunting melody often associated with military ceremonies or the bugling sound produced by certain animals like elk or swans.
Apart from musical instruments and sounds, "bugle" can also be a verb, describing the act of playing a bugle or sounding a bugle call. It can also describe a straight, slender, and somewhat elongated shape, resembling the musical instrument, or a plant of the genus Ajuga in the mint family that has vibrant blue or purple flowers.
Overall, "bugle" encompasses multiple meanings, ranging from a musical instrument to a distinctive call or shape. Its various definitions showcase the breadth of its usage across different domains including music, nature, and even language itself.
A hunting-horn, formerly spelt buffalo-horn; a musical instrument; a genus of plants; a long slender glass bead, generally black.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "bugle" has an interesting etymology. It can be traced back to the Latin word "buculus", meaning "bullock" or "young ox". This Latin term eventually evolved into "buccula", referring to "a small curved metal horn". Later, the word entered Middle French as "bugle", where it referred to a musical instrument having a winding shape like a curve or a horn. Over time, the term was adopted in English and came to refer specifically to a brass instrument used for military purposes. The word "bugle" is also associated with the sound produced by the instrument, which is said to resemble the call of the bull.
