Definify.com

Definition 2024


buttle

buttle

English

Alternative forms

Verb

buttle (third-person singular simple present buttles, present participle buttling, simple past and past participle buttled)

  1. To serve as or perform the duties of a butler.
    • 1909, J. T. Grein, Sunday Times:
      ...even the stoic and impeccable maid of Miss Ethelwyn Arthur-Jones, who ‘buttled’ as well as the most time-honoured butler.
    • 1989, Benjamin Quarles, The Negro in the Civil War:
      Houses where Negroes buttled or cooked were marked for a visit.
    • 2000, Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum:
      At times like this, he buttled when Spriggan the butler was not on duty, or if an extra hand was needed, he footed as well.
    • For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:buttle.

Usage notes

  • Because of its origins as a back-formation, buttle is considered nonstandard and uses are often jocular.