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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
butt1 verb (butted, butting) tr & intr 1 to push or hit hard or roughly with the head, in the way a ram or goat might. See also head-butt. 2 (especially butt against or on something) to join or be joined end to end with it. noun 1 a blow with the head or horns. 2 the place where two edges join.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French boter to push or strike.
butt in colloq to interrupt or interfere. butt into something to interrupt (eg a conversation, or someone's private affairs). |
butt2 noun 1 the unused end of a finished cigar or cigarette, etc. 2 the thick, heavy or bottom end of a tool or weapon a rifle butt. 3 now chiefly N Amer colloq the buttocks.
ETYMOLOGY: 15c as bott or but in senses 2 and 3; related to buttock.
butt3 noun 1 a person who is often a target of jokes, ridicule or criticism, etc. 2 a mound of earth behind a target on a shooting range, acting as a backstop. 3 a low mound behind which grouse-shooters, etc conceal themselves.
ETYMOLOGY: 15c in sense 2: from French but a target.
butt4 noun a large barrel for beer or rainwater, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from French botte, from Latin buttis cask.
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
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Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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