butler

[ buht-ler ]

/ ˈbʌt lər /

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noun

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

a male servant having charge of the wines and liquors.

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

verb (used with object)

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.

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Origin of butler

First recorded in1250–1300; Middle English buteler, from Anglo-French butuiller, Old French bouteillier, from Medieval Latin butticulārius, derivative of butticula ; see bottle¹, -er², -ier²

OTHER WORDS FROM butler

but·ler·like, adjectivebut·ler·ship, nounun·der·but·ler, noun

Words nearby butler

Buteshire, Buteyko method, but for, but good, Buthelezi, butler, butlerage, butler's pantry, butler's sideboard, butler's table, butler's tray

Other definitions for butler (2 of 2)

Butler

[ buht-ler ]

/ ˈbʌt lər /

noun

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

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

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

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

Samuel, 1612–80, English poet.

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

Smedley Dar·ling·ton

[smed-lee dahr-ling-tuhn], /ˈsmɛd li ˈdɑr lɪŋ tən/, 1881–1940, U.S. Marine Corps general.

a city in W Pennsylvania.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use butler in a sentence

Throwing Anthony Davis on Butler had a huge impact on Butler struggling to score.
How Can Miami Get Back Into The NBA Finals?|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|October 8, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Prior to Game 4, Davis had defended Butler on 16 possessions during this series, according to Second Spectrum, and Butler didn’t score at all.
Jimmy Butler Started Hot. Then The Lakers Cooled Him Down.|Jared Dubin|October 7, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
He also unleashed a flurry of pinpoint passes to teammates who benefited from their own mismatch or the attention Butler drew.
The Heat Took A Page From The Lakers’ Playbook|Michael Pina|October 6, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The last month and a half has included end-of-game scoring heroics from Butler, Dončić, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, OG Anunoby, Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokić, Fred VanVleet and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
These NBA Playoffs Are All About The Clutch Shooters|Josh Planos|October 5, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

Without his two best teammates, Butler became the first player to outscore, outrebound and outassist LeBron James in a Finals game.
Jimmy Butler Outplayed LeBron James And Bought Miami Some Breathing Room|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|October 5, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
She says that every film she makes, she has to hit someone—The Color Purple, The Butler, and Selma.
Ava DuVernay on ‘Selma,’ the Racist Sony Emails, and Making Golden Globes History|Marlow Stern|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That was 12 Years A Slave, The Butler, Fruitvale Station, and Mandela.
David Oyelowo on Playing Martin Luther King Jr., Ebola Fears, and Race in Hollywood|Marlow Stern|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Kassig traveled to Beirut during spring break while he was studying at Butler University in Indianapolis.
ISIS Beheads British Aid Worker Alan Henning|Nico Hines|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I have yet to be convinced that it will work in our best interests,” said Butler.
Celebs Pick Sides on Scotland Referendum: Sean Connery, Andy Murray, Prince Harry, and More|Marlow Stern|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
GERARD BUTLER The Scottish hunk is—surprisingly—leaning towards “NO” when it comes to Scottish independence.
Celebs Pick Sides on Scotland Referendum: Sean Connery, Andy Murray, Prince Harry, and More|Marlow Stern|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"I most humbly thank your lordship," replied the butler with an air of profound gratitude, as he chuckled in his sleeve.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
What is, then, this precious drink I read of in my Shakespeare—so precious, that your lordship will not trust him to his butler?
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
We are going to send our butler to the sale to-morrow, to pick up some of that sixty-four.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
As I emerged from my room next morning I saw old Giles, the butler, hurrying down the corridor towards me.
Uncanny Tales|Various
The butler had come up to his master in the unobtrusive manner of a well-trained servant, and was waiting an opportunity to speak.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for butler (1 of 2)

butler

/ (ˈbʌtlə) /

noun

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

Word Origin for butler

C13: from Old French bouteillier, from bouteille bottle 1

British Dictionary definitions for butler (2 of 2)

Butler

/ (ˈbʌtlə) /

noun

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

butler

Origin of butler

OTHER WORDS FROM butler

Words nearby butler

Other definitions for butler (2 of 2)

Words related to butler

How to use butler in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for butler (1 of 2)

Word Origin for butler

British Dictionary definitions for butler (2 of 2)