butler

¹

[buht-ler]

noun

1. the chief male servant of a household, usually in charge of serving food, the care of silverware, etc.

2. a male servant having charge of the wines and liquors.

3. a tray or other receptacle used to serve drinks or food.

verb (used with object)

1. to serve (drinks, hors d’oeuvres, etc.) by walking around among guests.

   Our waitstaff will butler cocktails on silver trays. The butlered appetizers are all gluten-free.

Butler

²

[buht-ler]

noun

1. Benjamin Franklin, 1818–93, U.S. politician and a Union general in the Civil War.

2. Joseph, 1692–1752, English bishop, theologian, and author.

3. Nicholas Murray, 1862–1947, U.S. educator: president of Columbia University 1902–45; Nobel Peace Prize 1931.

4. Pierce, 1866–1939, U.S. jurist: associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1923–39.

5. Samuel, 1612–80, English poet.

6. Samuel, 1835–1902, English novelist, essayist, and satirist.

7. Smedley Darlington 1881–1940, U.S. Marine Corps general.

8. a city in W Pennsylvania.

Butler

¹

/ ˈbʌtlə /

noun

1. Joseph . 1692–1752, English bishop and theologian, author of Analogy of Religion (1736)

2. Josephine ( Elizabeth ). 1828–1906, British social reformer, noted esp for her campaigns against state regulation of prostitution

3. Reg , full name Reginald Cotterell Butler . 1913–81, British metal sculptor; his works include The Unknown Political Prisoner (1953)

4. R ( ichard ) A ( usten ), Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, known as Rab Butler . 1902–82, British Conservative politician: Chancellor of the Exchequer (1951–55); Home Secretary (1957–62); Foreign Secretary (1963–64)

5. Samuel . 1612–80, English poet and satirist; author of Hudibras (1663–78)

6. Samuel . 1835–1902, British novelist, noted for his satirical work Erewhon (1872) and his autobiographical novel The Way of All Flesh (1903)

butler

²

/ ˈbʌtlə /

noun

1. the male servant of a household in charge of the wines, table, etc: usually the head servant

Other Word Forms

• butlerlike adjective
• butlership noun
• underbutler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Butler¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English buteler, from Anglo-French butuiller, Old French bouteillier, from Medieval Latin butticulārius, derivative of butticula ; bottle ¹, -er ², -ier ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of Butler¹

C13: from Old French bouteillier , from bouteille _bottle ¹

Example Sentences

A battalion of chefs, butlers and drivers catering to the smallest of whims.

From Los Angeles Times

A new robot shop has opened in Beijing selling everything from mechanical butlers to human-like replicas of Albert Einstein.

From BBC

Erich von Stroheim, playing Norma’s butler, ex-husband and emotional support beam, was once a giant among silent-era directors.

From Los Angeles Times

Mann said Chivayo insisted on referring to him as their "butler".

From BBC

We went on her cruise in April last year with Michael McDonald and we got a penthouse suite, and she was not far from us and our butler got her autograph.

From Los Angeles Times