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1

butt

verb \ ˈbət \
Updated on: 28 Feb 2018
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Definition of butt

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

Origin and Etymology of butt

Middle English, from Anglo-French buter, boter, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German bōzan to beat — more at beat
2

butt

noun

Definition of butt

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

Origin and Etymology of butt

see 1butt
3

butt

noun

Definition of butt

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 1imperial 4) gallons (491 liters)

Origin and Etymology of butt

Middle English, from Anglo-French but, bout, from Old Occitan bota, from Late Latin buttis
4

butt

noun

Definition of butt

1 a : a backstop (such as a mound or bank) for catching missiles shot at a target
b : target
c butts plural : range 5c
  • a shooting butt
d : a blind for shooting birds
2 a 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

Origin and Etymology of butt

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
5

butt

noun

Definition of butt

1 : buttocks
  • slipped and fell on his butt
—often used as a euphemism for ass in idiomatic expressions
  • get your butt over here
  • kick butt
  • saved 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
3 a : 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

Origin and Etymology of butt

Middle English; probably akin to Middle English buttok buttock, Low German butt blunt
6

butt

verb

Definition of butt

intransitive verb
: abut —used with on or against
  • where the floorboards butt against each other
  • The 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 5butt 3a)

Origin and Etymology of butt

partly from 4butt, partly from 5butt

Phrases Related to BUTT

Related Phrases

BUTT Defined for Kids

1

butt

noun \ ˈbət \

Definition of butt for Students

: a target of ridicule or hurtful humor
  • He became the butt of their jokes.
2

butt

noun

Definition of butt for Students

1 : the part of the body on which a person sits
2 : the thicker or bottom end of something
  • the butt of a rifle
3 : an unused remainder
  • a cigarette butt
3

butt

verb

Definition of butt for Students

butted; butting
: to strike or thrust with the head or horns
— butt in
: to intrude on someone else's activity or conversation
4

butt

noun

Definition of butt for Students

: a blow or thrust with the head or horns

Learn More about butt

  1. See words that rhyme with butt Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for butt Spanish Central: Translation of butt

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