butt

verb (1)

\ ˈbət

butted; butting; butts

Definition of butt

(Entry 1 of 6)

intransitive verb

: to thrust or push headfirst : strike with the head or horns

transitive verb

: to strike or shove with the head or horns got butted by a goat butting their horns together

butt heads

: to come into conflict

butt

noun (1)

Definition of butt (Entry 2 of 6)

: a blow or thrust usually with the head or horns a head butt to the ribs

butt

noun (2)

Definition of butt (Entry 3 of 6)

1 : a large cask especially for wine, beer, or water

2 : any of various units of liquid capacity especially : a measure equal to 108 imperial (see imperial entry 1 sense 4) gallons (491 liters)

butt

noun (3)

Definition of butt (Entry 4 of 6)

1a : a backstop (such as a mound or bank) for catching missiles shot at a target

b : target

c butts plural : range sense 5c a shooting butt

d : a blind for shooting birds

2a obsolete : limit, bound

b archaic : goal here is my journey's end, here is my butt— William Shakespeare

3 : an object of abuse or ridicule : victim the butt of all their jokes

butt

noun (4)

Definition of butt (Entry 5 of 6)

1 : buttocks slipped and fell on his butt —often used as a euphemism for ass in idiomatic expressions get your butt over herekick buttsaved our butts

2 : the large or thicker end part of something:

a food : a lean upper cut of the pork shoulder

b : the base of a plant from which the roots spring

c : the thicker or handle end of a tool or weapon the butt of a rifle

3a : an unused remainder (as of a cigarette or cigar)

b slang : cigarette

4 : the part of a hide or skin corresponding to the animal's back and sides

butt

verb (2)

butted; butting; butts

Definition of butt (Entry 6 of 6)

intransitive verb

: abut —used with on or against where the floorboards butt against each otherThe apartment building butts up against an old church.

transitive verb

1 : to place end to end or side to side without overlapping butt the boards together

2 : to trim or square off (something, such as a log) at the end

3 : to reduce (something, such as a cigarette) to an unused remainder by stubbing or stamping : to reduce to a butt (see butt entry 5 sense 3a)

First Known Use of butt

Verb (1)

1579, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

1642, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (4)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1634, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

History and Etymology for butt

Verb (1) and Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French buter, boter, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German bōzan to beat — more at beat

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French but, bout, from Old Occitan bota, from Late Latin buttis

Noun (3)

Middle English, partly from Middle French but target, of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse būtr log, Low German butt blunt; partly from Middle French bute goal, target, mound, from but target

Noun (4)

Middle English; probably akin to Middle English buttok buttock, Low German butt blunt

Verb (2)

partly from butt entry 4, partly from butt entry 5

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