butt

1
[ buht ]
/ bʌt /

noun

the end or extremity of anything, especially the thicker, larger, or blunt end considered as a bottom, base, support, or handle, as of a log, fishing rod, or pistol.
an end that is not used or consumed; remnant: a cigar butt.
a lean cut of pork shoulder.
Slang. the buttocks.
Slang. a cigarette.

Origin of butt

1
1400–50; late Middle English bott (thick) end, buttock, Old English butt tree stump (in place names); akin to Swedish but stump, Danish but stubby; cf. buttock

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH butt

but butt

Definition for butt (2 of 5)

butt 2
[ buht ]
/ bʌt /

noun

verb (used without object)

to have an end or projection on; be adjacent to; abut.

verb (used with object)

to position or fasten an end (of something).
to place or join the ends (of two things) together; set end-to-end.

Origin of butt

2
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French but target, goal, probably ≪ Old Norse bútr butt1, from the use of a wooden block or stump as a target in archery, etc.

Definition for butt (3 of 5)

Origin of butt

3
1150–1200; Middle English butten < Anglo-French buter, Old French boter to thrust, strike < Germanic; compare Middle Dutch botten to strike, sprout

Definition for butt (4 of 5)

butt 4
[ buht ]
/ bʌt /

noun

a large cask for wine, beer, or ale.
any cask or barrel.
any of various units of capacity, usually considered equal to two hogsheads.

Origin of butt

4
1350–1400; Middle English bote < Anglo-French bo(u)t(e); Middle French < Old Provençal bota < Late Latin butta, buttis, akin to Greek boût(t)is

Definition for butt (5 of 5)

butt 5

or but

[ buht ]
/ bʌt /

any of several flatfishes, especially the halibut.

Origin of butt

5
1250–1300; Middle English butte; cognate with Sw butta turbot, German Butt brill, turbot, flounder, Dutch bot flounder

Example sentences from the Web for butt

British Dictionary definitions for butt (1 of 5)

butt 1
/ (bʌt) /

noun

the thicker or blunt end of something, such as the end of the stock of a rifle
the unused end of something, esp of a cigarette; stub
tanning the portion of a hide covering the lower backside of the animal
US and Canadian informal the buttocks
US a slang word for cigarette
building trades short for butt joint, butt hinge

Word Origin for butt

C15 (in the sense: thick end of something, buttock): related to Old English buttuc end, ridge, Middle Dutch bot stumpy

British Dictionary definitions for butt (2 of 5)

butt 2
/ (bʌt) /

noun

a person or thing that is the target of ridicule, wit, etc
shooting archery
  1. a mound of earth behind the target on a target range that stops bullets or wide shots
  2. the target itself
  3. (plural) the target range
a low barrier, usually of sods or peat, behind which sportsmen shoot game birds, esp grouse
archaic goal; aim

verb

(usually foll by on or against) to lie or be placed end on to; abut to butt a beam against a wall

Word Origin for butt

C14 (in the sense: mark for archery practice): from Old French but; related to French butte knoll, target

British Dictionary definitions for butt (3 of 5)

butt 3
/ (bʌt) /

verb

to strike or push (something) with the head or horns
(intr) to project; jut
(intr ; foll by in or into) to intrude, esp into a conversation; interfere; meddle
butt out informal, mainly US and Canadian to stop interfering or meddling

noun

a blow with the head or horns

Derived forms of butt

butter, noun

Word Origin for butt

C12: from Old French boter, of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch botten to strike; see beat, button

British Dictionary definitions for butt (4 of 5)

butt 4
/ (bʌt) /

noun

a large cask, esp one with a capacity of two hogsheads, for storing wine or beer
a US unit of liquid measure equal to 126 US gallons

Word Origin for butt

C14: from Old French botte, from Old Provençal bota, from Late Latin buttis cask, perhaps from Greek butinē chamber pot

British Dictionary definitions for butt (5 of 5)

Butt
/ (bʌt) /

noun

Dame Clara . 1872–1936, English contralto