butter bar

English

Alternative forms

• butterbar

Etymology

Derived from the insignia of an O-1 in the US Military, which consists of a single yellow bar.

Noun

butter bar (plural butter bars)

1. (US Air Force, US Army, US Marines, slang) A second lieutenant.
2. (US Navy, US Coast Guard, slang) An ensign.

Quotations

• 1977, Rafael Alberto Rivas, Survival: my life in love and war, page 154:

  "Hey, 'Butter Bar,' " one of the brothers called, referring to the lieutenant, "how much ya want for that round-eyed whore ya got?"

• 2010 -- Green Zone Dir. Paul Greenglass. Perf. Matt Damon. Dist. Universal Pictures.

  "The 101st sent 35 men and one butter bar in here and they don't even have this place secure."

Translations

Second Lieutenant

• Finnish: vänskä (army, air force), aliluti (navy)