buttle

American  

[buht-l] / ˈbʌt l /

verb (used without object)

Slang.

buttled, buttling

1. to work or serve as a butler.

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Etymology

Origin of buttle

First recorded in 1865–70; back formation from butler

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

buttle buttled buttling

This summer, Currie — who has tawny hair and, often, a light tan — is planning to travel to various destinations in Europe to buttle at vacation houses.

From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024

Such is the strange existence of live-in domestics, men and women hired to clean or buttle or nanny.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 3, 2013

Ise can buttle, ise a good yard man.

From Time Magazine Archive

Watching him buttle, John Barrymore once said: "You played that as if you came from a long line of butlers."

From Time Magazine Archive

He liked the food, he liked seeing his father buttle, and he liked these amazing freaks who were, it appeared, fellow-inmates with him of this highly desirable residence.

From Piccadilly Jim by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)

She didn't have to say a word to William; he shore was some butler—I reckon he buttled as good as anyone in the Row.

From The Man Next Door by Hough, Emerson

As personal assistants have been rebranded as executive assistants and child care providers as executive nannies, buttling has become a career that involves not only polishing silver and folding napkins but also lifestyle management.

From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024

With the grave deference learned through years of buttling, he takes his place behind a rack of his special omelet pans,* each with its own propane-fueled Bernz-o-matic burner.

From Time Magazine Archive

Cronin first met young Armstrong-Jones in 1958 when Cronin was buttling for U.S.

From Time Magazine Archive

You aren't going to hold down this buttling job forever, are you?

From Piccadilly Jim by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)

I believe you," says I. "So you took up buttling, eh?

From Wilt Thou Torchy by Ford, Sewell