buttle

See also: Buttle

English

Alternative forms

• butle

Etymology

Back-formation from butler. Compare bottle (verb).

Verb

buttle (third-person singular simple present buttles, present participle buttling, simple past and past participle buttled)

1. To serve as or perform the duties of a butler.
   • 1909, J. T. Grein, Sunday Times:

     ...even the stoic and impeccable maid of Miss Ethelwyn Arthur-Jones, who ‘buttled’ as well as the most time-honoured butler.

   • 1989, Benjamin Quarles, The Negro in the Civil War:

     Houses where Negroes buttled or cooked were marked for a visit.

   • 2000, Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum:

     At times like this, he buttled when Spriggan the butler was not on duty, or if an extra hand was needed, he footed as well.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:buttle.

Usage notes

• Because of its origins as a back-formation, buttle is considered nonstandard and uses are often jocular.