bustle definition

In fashion, a bustle is a padded framework that puffs out the back of a dress—Victorian-era rear-wheel drive, if you like.

More broadly, “bustle” means energetic activity or commotion; as a verb, to bustle is to scurry about getting things done.

So it’s both a historical wardrobe gadget and the vibe of a CBD at 5 pm, minus the honking.

If someone says “mind the bustle,” decide whether they mean sharp elbows or elaborate tailoring.