butt Hear it!

butt1 definition

butt (but)

noun

  1. the thick end of anything, as of a whip handle, rifle stock, etc.
  2. the remaining end of anything; stub; stump; specif., the stub of a smoked cigarette or cigar
    1. Etymology: ? infl. by Fr butte, mound < OFr buter

      a mound of earth, bales of straw, etc. behind a target, for receiving fired rounds or shot arrows
    2. a target
    3. a target range
  3. a hole in the ground used as a blind by hunters of fowl
  4. an object of ridicule or criticism
  5. Slang a cigarette
  6. Informal the buttocks
  7. Obsolete
    1. a limit
    2. a goal
  8. Tanning the part of a hide or pelt that covered the animal's backside

Etymology: < several bases, variously confused in E or Fr: ME but, butte, thick end, ? akin to ON būtr, block of wood, Du bot, stumpy, stocky, or ? < OFr bout, end < buter (see butt); ME but, target, boundary < MFr bout, aim, goal, < abuter, to aim < à, at (< L ad) + but, goal (< ?)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to join end to end
butt2 definition

butt (but)

transitive verb

  1. to strike or push with the head or horns; ram with the head
  2. to strike or bump against
  3. to abut on
  4. to make abut: (on, upon, or against)

Etymology: ME butten, to drive, thrust < OFr buter (< Frank *botan), to thrust against: for IE base see beat

intransitive verb

  1. to make a butting motion
  2. to move or drive headfirst
  3. to stick out; project
  4. to abut

noun

  1. a thrust with the head or horns
  2. a thrust in fencing

Etymology: ME; prob. < OFr buter, or < the v.

butt Idioms

butt in

or butt into
Informal to mix into (another's business, a conversation, etc.)

butt out!

Slang stop meddling!mind your own business!
butt3 definition

butt (but)

noun

  1. a large barrel or cask, as for wine or beer
  2. a measure of liquid capacity equal to 126 gal or two hogsheads (108 imperial gal)

Etymology: ME butte < OFr botte < ML butta < LL buttis, cask

butt4 definition

butt (but)

noun

any of various flatfishes, as the halibut or turbot

Etymology: ME butte, but; prob. < MLowG butte (> Swed butta, Du bot, Ger butte) < adj. butte, lumpy: akin to butt

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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