butler

[ buht-ler ]

/ ˈbʌt lər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR butler ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

RELATED WORDS

man, steward, valet, manservant

Nearby words

Origin of butler

1250–1300; Middle English buteler < Anglo-French butuiller, Old French bouteillier; see bottle¹, -er², -ier²

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

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-tuh n] /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. 2019

Examples from the Web for butler

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

Now the sky is a hot, empty blue, and cars line the curb from Butler to Vance.
Stanley Booth on the Life and Hard Times of Blues Genius Furry Lewis|Stanley Booth|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The latter had been reading a new publication, which she laid down at the voice of the butler announcing a visitor.
Newton Forster|Captain Frederick Marryat
Mr. Butler, for all his commercial and political responsibility, was as much a child to her as any.
The Financier|Theodore Dreiser
Butler told them briefly what had taken place, without making any special point of his own part in the affair.
The Pony Rider Boys in Louisiana|Frank Gee Patchin
The butler filled two cups, M. Petrovitch taking the second from the tray as I lifted the first to my lips.
The International Spy|Allen Upward
"Well, sir—" the butler hesitated, as if at a loss to express himself.
The Hand in the Dark|Arthur J. Rees

British Dictionary definitions for butler

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

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

Word Origin and History for butler

butler

late 12c., from Anglo-French buteillier "cup-bearer," from Old French boteillier "cup-bearer, butler, officer in charge of wine," from boteille "wine vessel, bottle" (see bottle (n.)). The word reflects the position's original function as "chief servant in charge of wine." In Old French, fem. boteilliere was used of the Virgin Mary as "dispenser" of the cup of Mercy.

butler

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of butler

Butler

noun

Examples from the Web for butler

butler

noun

Word Origin for butler

Butler

noun

butler