From Middle English but, butte, from Old English byt, bytt and *butt (attested in diminutive Old English buttuc > English buttock), from Proto-Germanic *buttaz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰudʰnós, later thematic variant of Proto-Indo-European *bʰudʰmḗn, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ-.
Cognate with Norwegian butt, Icelandic bútur, Low German butt. Influenced by Old French but, butte, ultimately from the same Germanic source. Compare also Albanian bythë, Ancient Greek πυθμήν, Latin fundus and Sanskrit बुध्न, from the same Proto-Indo-European root. Related to bottom, boot.
From Middle English butten, from Anglo-Norman buter, boter, from Frankish *bautan, from Proto-Germanic *bautaną, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewd-. Cognate with Old English bēatan. More at beat.
From Middle English bit, bitte, bytte, butte, from Old English bytt, byt and Old French boute and other etymologies on this page.
From Middle English but, butte, botte, possibly derived from butt#Etymology 1, meaning "blunt-headed fish." Compare Dutch bot and the second element of English halibut.
Cognate with West Frisian bot, German Low German Butt, German Butt, Butte, Swedish butta.
Modern English dictionary
Explore and search massive catalog of over 900,000 word meanings.
Word of the Day
Get a curated memorable word every day.
Challenge yourself
Level up your vocabulary by setting personal goals.