• BUT
n. 1. c1300 obs. – a throw of a stone or other heavy weight
n. 2. 1950 Amer. dial. – the outer room of a house, esp. of a two-roomed cottage
• BUT-AND-BEN
n. 1937 Amer. dial. – a two-roomed cottage
• BUTCH
adj. 1. 1939 colloq. – resembling a tough, violent, or physically fit man; macho, manly
adj. 2. 1941 colloq. – of female homosexuals: masculine in appearance or behaviour; virile, tough
adj. 3. 1949 US sl. – of a man: not homosexual
adj. 4. 1962 US sl., orig. prison usage – given to or involving violence
adj. 5. 1971 sl. – of a woman: mannish; unpleasantly assertive; dominating
adj. 6. 1987 colloq. – strong, powerful, rough, rugged
n. 1. 1859 US colloq. – a butcher knife; a hunter’s knife
n. 2. 1873 US colloq. – a nickname for a tough young man
n. 3. 1891 colloq. – a person who sells refreshments, newspapers, etc. in a train, theatre, etc.
n. 4. 1939 US colloq. – a haircut in which the hair is clipped very short
n. 5. 1942 US sl. – a mistake, a blunder, an error; in radio & TV: an error made in delivering lines
n. 6. Amer. World War II sl. – a medical officer
n. 7. 1947 colloq. – a lesbian with masculine tendencies
n. 8. 1963 colloq. – in a male homosexual couple: a partner who takes on a more dominant or active role, either sexually or in a more general sense
vb. 1. 1656 rare – to slaughter an animal, to kill for market
vb. 2. 1846 – to work as a butcher; to carry on the trade of a butcher
vb. 3. 1953 colloq. – to cut hair very short
vb. 4. 1964 – to make more traditionally or stereotypically masculine, either in appearance or behaviour
• BUTCH-BROAD
n. 1966 US sl. – a mannish aggressive lesbian; usually used contemptuously
• BUTCH CUT
n. 1939 colloq. – a short haircut; a crew cut
• BUTCHER
n. 1. 1483 obs. – an executioner; a person who inflicts capital punishment or torture
n. 2. 1759 sl. – a doctor or surgeon, esp. one who is incompetent or too readily inclined to operate on patients
n. 3. 1834 US sl. – a butcher knife
n. 4. 1848 US sl. – a bullfighter
n. 5. 1867 US colloq. – a vendor of newspapers, peanuts, candy, etc., esp. aboard a passenger train or at a sporting event
n. 6. 1867 US sl. – in journalism: a copy editor
n. 7. 1889 Aust. sl. – a glass or measure of beer; it now typically measures 6 oz (170ml)
n. 8. 1906 US military & prison sl. – a barber
n. 9. 1954 US sl. – a clumsy incompetent; a bungler
n. 10. 1972 US sl. – in basketball: an excessively rough defensive player
vb. 1. 1597 obs. rare – to torment or inflict torture upon a person
vb. 2. 1942 US military sl. – to give an extremely close haircut to
vb. 3. 1966 US sl. – to operate on
vb. 4. 1980 US sl. – in sports, esp. basketball: to block an offensive player with undue roughness
• BUTCHERBOY
vb. 1978 US sl. – in baseball: to bat a ball with a sharp downward motion
• BUTCHER CART
n. 1926 US sl. – an ambulance
• BUTCHERDOM
n. 1. 1842 obs. rare – a situation in which acts of butchery or slaughter are committed
n. 2. 1857 – butchers collectively; also, the state of being a butcher; the craft of a butcher
• BUTCHERER
n. 1592 obs. rare – a person who wantonly destroys something
• BUTCHERESS
n. 1. a1475 obs. rare – a woman who procures prostitutes or illicit sexual partners for others
n. 2. 1802 – a female butcher; also, butcher’s wife or daughter
• BUTCHER FLY
n. 1633 – a fly that feeds on meat or flesh; a blowfly
• BUTCHERLY
adj. 1. 1528 – inflicting or involving brutal slaughter or injury; barbarous; bloody; of a blow or stroke: violent, rough
adj. 2. a1568 obs. rare – relating to physical torture
adv. 1560 obs. – in a violent and bloody manner; brutally, barbarously
• BUTCHER MAN
n. 1481 – a butcher
• BUTCHEROUS
adj. 1575 – inflicting or involving brutal slaughter or injury; murderous; barbarous; bloody
• BUTCHER ROW
n. a1425 rare – stalls, in which butchers formerly prepared and sold meat
• BUTCHER’S
adj. 1. 1941 Aust. & NZ sl. – angry, annoyed
adj. 2. 1967 Aust. rhyming sl. for ‘butcher’s hook’ for ‘crook’ – ill
n. 1936 Brit. sl., short for ‘butcher’s hook’ – a look, a glance
• BUTCHER’S BILL
n. 1829 – the list of casualties in a battle or war; also, the financial cost of a war
• BUTCHER’S CANARY
n. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – a blowfly
• BUTCHER’S HOOK
adj. 1967 Aust. rhyming sl. for ‘crook’ – ill
n. 1936 Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘look’ – a look, a glance
• BUTCHER SHOP
n. 1. 1890 Amer. sl., esp. military usage – an operating room; also, a hospital; often used disparagingly
n. 2. 1932 Amer. nautical sl. – a whaling ship; used disparagingly
• THE BUTCHER, THE BAKER, THE CANDLESTICK MAKER
phr. Bk1999 – all and sundry
• BUTCHER WAGON
n. 1882 US sl. – an ambulance
• BUTCHER WORK
n. 1808 – indiscriminate killing; also, brutal or crude work
• BUTCHERY
adj. 1626 obs. – brutal; barbarous; bloody
n. 1. 1340 – originally: a place in which animals are slaughtered for food, and usually also cut up and prepared for sale; a shop or stall where animals are slaughtered; a slaughterhouse; an abattoir
n. 2. c1425 obs. – butchers collectively; the community of butchers
n. 3. c1540 obs. rare – a place of torture or torment
n. 4. 1789 – harsh criticism or condemnation of creative work, artist, etc.; disparagement
• BUTCHERY OF CONSCIENCE
n. 1582 obs. – spiritual torture
• BUTCH-FEMME
adj. 1983 colloq. – characterized by the adoption of butch and femme roles, esp. by two partners in a lesbian relationship
• BUTCHING
n. 1688 humorous usage – the trade or occupation of a butcher
• BUTCHSKI; BUTCHSKY
n. 1964 Amer. dial., derogatory – a Czechoslovakian
• BUTCHY
adj. 1. 1956 US – characteristic of or associated with masculinity as traditionally conceived
adj. 2. 1960 US – denoting a lesbian whose appearance, behaviour, or identity is regarded as masculine
n. 1. 1867 colloq. obs. rare – a butcher
n. 2. 1891 US rare – a nickname for a tough, violent, or physically fit man
• BUTE
n. 1. 1530 obs. rare – booty, plunder
n. 2. 1866 sl. – a beautiful person or thing
vb. c1600 Sc. obs. rare – to make booty of something; to share something taken as booty or plunder
• BUTESMAN
n. 1530 Sc. obs. rare – a person who shares booty or plunder with another
• BUTIN
n. c1450 obs. – spoil, plunder; booty
• BUTINSKI; BUTTINSKI; BUTTINSKY
n. 1902 Amer. dial. – one who interrupts or interferes; a meddler
• BUTLER
n. 1. a1300 obs. – originally, a servant responsible for supervising the wine cellar or serving wine or other drink, sometimes as cup-bearer to a monarch or nobleman; later, a (male) head servant, esp. in a large household, whose chief responsibilities include managing the wine cellar and dining arrangements, supervising other servants, and greeting visitors
n. 2. a1387 obs. – a person who or a thing which provides or dispenses something
• BUTLERAGE
n. 1. 1487 rare – the office or position of butler to a monarch, nobleman, etc.
n. 2. 1815 obs. rare – the part of household management or expenses which are supervised by the butler, or which relate to the butlery
• BUTLERESS
n. 1614 – a female butler
• BUTLERIAN
adj. 1841 – relating to a butler; characteristic of a butler
• BUTLER’S BOX
n. 1591 obs. – a box into which the players in a gambling game put part of their winnings, and which is handed to the butler; also, the money contained in this box
• BUTLERY
n. c1325 – orig.: a storeroom for provisions, esp. wine’ the provision and serving of drink as a department of a royal or noble household; later, a room in a large house, usually located between the kitchen and dining room, used for the storage of dishes, glassware, cutlery, etc., and sometimes also for serving or storing food and drink
• BUT ME NO BUTS
phr. 1629 – do no make any excuses, or protestations
• BUTMENT
n. 1679 obs. – a piece of land that abuts another larger piece
• BUTSEL
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – the rump of a cooked chicken
• BUTT
adv. 1832 nautical usage obs. – squarely, head-on
n. 1. c1330 obs. – a blow, a thrust
n. 2. c1425 – the place or part where something terminates; a limit, a boundary; an end point
n. 3. c1450 sl., chiefly US – the buttocks
n. 4. 1470 – a bundle, esp. of cloth, wool, or hay; a bale; a pack; a bag
n. 5. 1532 chiefly Eng. dial. – a man-made receptacle used as a home for a colony of bees; a beehive; a hiveful of bees
n. 6. 1542 Eng. dial. – a small piece of land, esp. of an irregular shape; a paddock
n. 7. 1571 – an objective or result towards which efforts are directed; an end, aim, object
n. 8. 1572 – any large cask or barrel; later, one used to collect and store rain water
n. 9. 1598 – a headland, a promontory
n. 10. 1600 – a hillock, a mound
n. 11. 1601 – the trunk of a felled tree; the thickest part of this
n. 12. 1607 – one who is an object of derision, abuse, or ridicule
n. 13. 1823 Eng. dial. obs. – a cushion for kneeling on in church, while at prayer; a hassock
n. 14. 1831 obs. rare – a large amount of something
n. 15. 1887 sl. – a fraction of a year, month, or week left to be served of a term of military enlistment, term of imprisonment, etc.
n. 16. 1893 Amer. sl. – a cigarette
n. 17. 1954 – oneself; one’s body
n. 18. 1956 Amer. dial. – a log suitable for firewood
n. 19. 1993 Amer. sl. – a stupid or contemptible person
n. 20. Bk2006 US sl., derogatory – a disliked person
vb. 1. c1330 obs. rare – to fall or dive head first in the direction specified
vb. 2. 1533 obs. rare – to aim at something
vb. 3. 1924 Amer. sl. – to crush out a cigarette or cigar
• THE BUTT
n. 1973 Amer. sl. – anger or irritability
• BUTTAL
n. 1. 1449 obs. – a territorial limit; a boundary; also, a boundary marker
n. 2. 1635 obs. rare – a measured piece of land
vb. 1449 obs. – to determine the limits or boundaries of a piece of land
• BUTT-BANG
vb. 1. 1960s US sl. – to subject to anal intercourse
vb. 2. 1970s sl. – to treat unfairly; to cheat; to deceive
vb. 3. 1980s US sl. – to injure
• BUTT-BANGER
n. 1960s US sl. – a participant in anal sex, esp. the partner who penetrates
• BUTT BOY
n. 1948 US colloq. – an obsequious or servile person; a sycophant
• BUTT BUCKET
n. 1958 US Navy sl. – an ashtray
• BUTT-BUSTER
n. 1. 1974 Amer. sl. – a hard-riding vehicle
n. 2. 1974 US Army sl. – an antipersonnel mine
• BUTT CALL
n. 2003 US colloq. – an inadvertent call made on a mobile phone in one’s rear trouser pocket, as a result of pressure being accidentally applied to the keypad or touch screen
• BUTT CAN
n. 1960 US military sl. – a can used as a receptacle for cigarette ashes; hence, a standing ashtray
vb. a1986 US military sl. – (as ‘butt-can’) to toss away or aside
• BUTT CHEEKS
n. 1987 US colloq. – the buttocks
• BUTT COOPER
n. 1813 – a cooper who makes butts (barrels) to hold liquids, esp. beer
• BUTT CRACK
n. 1975 US colloq. – the cleft between the buttocks
• BUTT DIAL
n. 2008 US colloq. – an inadvertent call made on a mobile phone in one’s rear trouser pocket, as a result of pressure being accidentally applied to the keypad or touch screen
vb. 2005 US colloq. – to inadvertently call someone on a mobile phone in one’s rear trouser pocket, as a result of pressure being accidentally applied to the keypad or touch screen
• BUTT-END
n. 1. 1597 – the last part or remnant of anything
n. 2. E18 – of ropes: the end of, or a part near the end of
n. 3. 1827 – the butt of a cigarette or cigar
n. 4. E19 – a fragmentary part of a speech or conversation that one might overhear, just as it tails off
• BUTT-END CHARLIE
n. 1942 US military sl. – the trailing aircraft in a formation; a tail gunner in a bomber; the last individual in a line
• BUTT-ENDED
adj. 1. 1850 obs. – poorly adapted, unsuitable, or inappropriate for a particular purpose; back-to-front
adj. 2. 1893 – having large buttocks
• BUTT-ENDER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a backward fall
• BUTTER
adj. Bk2006 US sl. – good; really fine
n. 1. 1474 obs. rare – a person who cheats at dice
n. 2. 1618 – ingratiating speech, unctuous flattery, esp. when used to gain favour or advantage
n. 3. c1618 sl. – ejaculated semen; also (rarely) vaginal fluid produced during sexual activity or arousal
n. 4. 1921 US sl. – nitroglycerine or dynamite
n. 5. 1929 US sl. – soldering paste
n. 6. 1972 US sl. – paraffin
vb. 1. 1671 sl. obs. – in gambling: to double or triple a bet
vb. 2. 1700 – to flatter or praise a person, esp. as a means of gaining favour or advantage
vb. 3. 1725 sl. obs. rare – to defraud through glib words
• BUTTERACEOUS
adj. 1837 obs. – given to flattery; unctuous
• BUTTER AND EGG DAY
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a day to trade produce
• BUTTER-AND-EGG FLY
n. Bk1934 college sl. – a popular co-ed
• BUTTER-AND-EGG MAN
n. 1. 1867 US sl. – a dairyman; a provincial farmer or businessman characterized as unsophisticated or easily duped
n. 2. 1924 Amer. sl., derisive usage – a man who is a farmer or small-town businessman and who spends money extravagantly
n. 3. 1924 US sl. – a wealthy unsophisticated man who spends money freely
• BUTTER AND EGGS
n. 1876 Amer. dial. – a daffodil
• BUTTER-AND-EGGS TROT
n. L18 sl. – a short jog-trot
• BUTTER A PERSON’S BREAD ON BOTH SIDES
vb. a1625 – to provide for a person, esp. to a lavish or excessive degree
• BUTTER A PERSON’S BREAD ON BOTH SIDES
vb. 1881 – to provide for a person, esp. to a lavish or excessive degree
• BUTTER BADGER
n. 1739 orig. Eng. dial. – an itinerant trader who buys butter from farmers to sell wholesale
• BUTTERBAG
n. 1645 obs., derogatory – a Dutchman
• BUTTERBALL
adj. 1888 colloq., derogatory – fat
n. 1868 Amer. colloq., derogatory – a fat or plump person or animal
• BUTTERBAR
n. 1. 1973 US sl. – a second lieutenant
n. 2. 1973 US sl. – one of the two gold bars that are the insignia of the rank of second lieutenant
• BUTTER-BASHER
n. 1939 sl., depreciative – a person who has recently taken up work as a taxi driver, esp. during a strike
• BUTTER-BEAN TEETH
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – buck teeth
• BUTTER BOAT
n. 1. 1866 colloq. – excessive or insincere flattery
n. 2. 19C sl. – the vagina
• BUTTER BOWZY
adj. 1719 obs. – designating a Dutchman
• BUTTERBOX
n. 1. 1595 rare, derogatory – a Dutchman; from the great quantity of butter eaten by the people of that country
n. 2. 1840 US nautical sl. – a squarish, clumsy vessel
n. 3. M19 sl. – a German
• BUTTER BOY
n. 1939 sl., depreciative usage – a person who has recently taken up work as a taxi driver
• BUTTERBRAIN
n. 1975-78 Amer. sl. – a fool
• BUTTERCUP
n. 1. L19 sl. – a pet name for a child
n. 2. 1930s sl. – an effeminate male homosexual
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. boxing sl. – an easy-hitting boxer
n. 4. 1956 Amer. dial. – a daffodil
n. 5. 1960s sl. – a pretty young girl
n. 6. 20C Brit. sl. – an innocent and naive youth; a young homosexual
• BUTTER DAISY
n. 1900 Amer. dial. – a buttercup
• BUTTERED
adj. 1. 1605 – of words or speech: smooth and ingratiating; soothing, glib
adj. 2. M19 US sl. – whipped, flogged
adj. 3. L19 sl. – subjected to sexual intercourse
adj. 4. 1940s African-American sl. – well-turned-out, elegant
adj. 5. 1990s sl. – drunk
• BUTTERED BREAD
adj. 1990s rhyming sl. – dead
• BUTTERED BUN
n. 1. 1638 – a woman who has had intercourse with one man and is about to repeat this immediately with a new partner; a sexually promiscuous woman; sexual intercourse with a woman who has just completed copulation with another man
n. 2. 1679 sl. obs. – a harlot, a mistress, a prostitute
n. 3. E18 sl. – a country fool; a rustic simpleton
n. 4. E18 sl. – a drunken man
n. 5. 1940s bingo usage – the number one
• BUTTERED BUNS
n. 1679 sl. – a harlot, a mistress; a prostitute
• BUTTERED SCONE
n. 1. M17 sl. – a woman who has had intercourse with one man and is about to repeat this immediately with a new partner
n. 2. 1940s bingo usage – the number one
• BUTTERFACE
n. 1998 African-American sl., derogatory – a female whose body is very attractive, but who has an unattractive face; an ugly woman
• BUTTER FACTOR
n. 1696 – a tradesman who buys butter from farmers to sell wholesale
• BUTTER-FINGERED
adj. 1. 1615 colloq. – clumsy, awkward
adj. 2. a1825 Eng. dial. obs. – unable or unwilling to handle hot items with one’s bare hands
• BUTTER-FINGERS
n. 1837 colloq. – someone liable to drop things
• BUTTERFISH
n. 1878 Amer. dial. – a moray eel
• BUTTER FLAP
n. 1. M19 rhyming sl. – a cap
n. 2. M19 rhyming sl. – a trap or light carriage
• BUTTERFLIES
n. 1940 colloq. – nerves, apprehension, a feeling of tension in the abdomen, esp. as the rest of anxiety; jitters
• BUTTERFLIES IN ONE’S STOMACH
n. 1940 colloq. – nerves, apprehension, a feeling of tension in the abdomen, esp. as the rest of anxiety; jitters
• BUTTERFLOWER
n. 1. 1527 – a buttercup
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – a dandelion
n. 3. 1970s drug culture sl. – (as ‘butter flower’) marijuana
• BUTTERFLY
adj. 1900s sl. – of clothes: gaudy, tasteless, flashy
n .1. c1390 – something likened to a butterfly, esp. in being flimsy, fragile, or ephemeral
n. 2. a1500 – a capricious, giddy, or frivolous person; one having a gaudy or showy appearance; an overdressed, flashy person
n. 3. 1884 UK sl. – a person whose periods of work or occupation are transitory or seasonal
n. 4. 1890 – one given to wandering
n. 5. L19 sl. – an effeminate weakling
n. 6. 1929 Amer. criminals’ sl. – a worthless cheque which ‘flutters away’
n. 7. 1930s sl., orig. African-American – an attractive young woman
n. 8. 1940s US students’ sl. – a flirt
n. 9. 1950s sl. – an effeminate male homosexual
n. 10. 1980s US homosexual sl. – a Black homosexual
n. 11. 1990s US criminals’ sl. – a new, young, and attractive prisoner, characterized as being potentially appealing to prison homosexuals
n. 12. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – a coin that fails to spin when tossed
vb. 1. 1893 obs. – to avoid an exclusive commitment to one romantic partner; to flirt, to philander, to dally
vb. 2. 1945-46 US military in Far East usage – to be sexually unfaithful to
• BUTTERFLY AEROPLANE
n. 1908 obs. – any of various lightweight aeroplanes
• BUTTERFLY BOY
n. 1950s sl. – an effeminate male homosexual
• BUTTERFLY EFFECT
n. 1976 – the phenomenon whereby a small change in some complex systems can have a large effect at a later time
• BUTTERFLYING
n. 1940s US students’ sl. – a flirting
• BUTTERFLYISM
n. 1833 obs. – the condition of being a butterfly; also, frivolous behaviour; giddiness
• BUTTERFLY KISS
n. 1. 1849 – a light kiss in which the lips only brush the skin
n. 2. 1883 – a ‘kiss’ made by fluttering one’s eyelashes against one’s partner’s skin to caress it
• BUTTERFLY MAN
n. 1920s US sl. – a person who passes worthless cheques
• BUTTERFLY NOSE
n. 1878 – a dog’s nose when spotted or mottled
• BUTTERFLY ON A WHEEL
n. 1734 – a weak or vulnerable person destroyed by, or at the mercy of, significantly more powerful people, institutions, or processes
• BUTTERFLY’S BOOTS
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
• BUTTERFLY STOMACH
n. 1943 – a fluttering sensation felt in the stomach as a result of nervousness or apprehensive excitement
• BUTTERFLY TUMMY
n. 1941 – a fluttering sensation felt in the stomach as a result of nervousness or apprehensive excitement
• BUTTER FRUIT
n. 1902 – an avocado
• BUTTER GILLS
n. 1950s US sl. – a fool
• BUTTERHEAD
n. 1. 1940s African-American sl. – a Black person who, for whatever reason, is considered an embarrassment to their race
n. 2. 1963 US sl. – a fool
• BUTTERHEADED
adj. 1950s US sl. – foolish
• BUTTER-HEARTED
adj. 1952 Amer. dial. – tender-hearted
• BUTTERICK
n. 1901 obs. – a picture typical of those found in a fashion magazine
• BUTTERING
adj. 1. 1716 obs. – designating a gambler who increases his or her stakes after every throw or game
adj. 2. 1789 – characterized by flattery; ingratiating
n. 1806 – a flattering or otherwise ingratiating oneself with someone; flattery
• BUTTERING UP
n. 19C sl. – excessive flattery
• BUTTERINSKY
n. 1903 Amer. dial. – one who interferes; a busybody, a meddler
• BUTTER-KNIFE
n. 19C sl. – the penis
• BUTTER MAIDEN
n. 1920s Anglo-Indian, derogatory – a Eurasian woman
• BUTTERMILK
adj. 1843 Amer. dial. – having the characteristics of a marsh, boggy
n. 1. 1630 – something weak, insipid, or sour
n. 2. 1940 Amer. dial. – an orphaned calf
• BUTTERMILK BOTTOM
n. 1920s African-American sl. – the Black area of town
• BUTTERMILK CHEESE
n. 1949 Amer. dial. – cottage cheese
• BUTTERMILK COW
n. Bk1942 Amer. Western sl. – a bull
• BUTTERMILK LAND
n. 1843 Amer. dial. – swampy land characterized by pale loamy soil
• BUTTERMILK RANGER
n. 1867 US Confederate Army usage – a cavalryman; used derisively
• BUTTERMILK SKY
n. 1946 Amer. dial. – the sky when filled with small, curd-like or patchy clouds; the clouds themselves
• BUTTERMOUTH
n. 1. a1549 obs. – a Dutchman
n. 2. 1865 – a person who disarms and persuades others through the artful, ingratiating, or disingenuous use of language
vb. 1990s African-American sl. – (usually as ‘butter mouth’) to flatter
• BUTTER-MOUTHED
adj. 1865 Eng. dial. – said of persons who are afraid to speak out plainly
• BUTTERNUT
n. 1. 1862 US Army sl. – a soldier or civilian of the Confederate States; a Southerner
n. 2. 1935 Amer. dial. – a Brazil nut
• BUTTER ONE’S BREAD ON BOTH SIDES
vb. 1768 – to simultaneously ally oneself with opposing factions, people, or causes; to behave in a duplicitous and self-interested manner
• BUTTER OUT
vb. E19 sl. – to flatter, to ingratiate oneself
• BUTTER PEAR
n. 1600 – an avocado
• BUTTER PECAN
n. 1990s African-American teen sl. – an attractive Puerto Rican/Latino woman
• BUTTER-PRINT
n. 1616 sl. obs. – an offspring; a baby or a child, specifically a weak or feeble one
• BUTTER-QUEAN
n. 1613 obs., derogatory – a woman who makes or sells butter, characterized as garrulous, argumentative, and bad-tempered
• BUTTER ROSE
n. 1935 Amer. dial. – a buttercup
• BUTTERS
adj. 2003 UK sl., derogatory – of a person: ugly, unattractive; later, of a thing, unappealing, disgusting, horrible
• BUTTER-SHAG
n. 1805 Eng. dial. – a slice of bread and butter
• BUTTER SKIN
n. c1960 Amer. sl. – money, esp. a bill
• BUTTER TEETH
n. a1566 – buck teeth; later, teeth that are yellowish or uncared-for
• BUTTER THE CONY
vb. 1611 obs. – to take advantage of an unmissable opportunity
• BUTTER THE FISH
vb. 1920s sl. – to win at cards
• BUTTER THE MUFFIN
vb. 1990s sl. – of a woman: to masturbate
• BUTTER THE SHUTTER
vb. Bk1942 US sl. – to smile for the camera
• BUTTER-THUMBS
n. M19 sl. – one who lets things slip through their fingers
• BUTTER-TOOTHED
adj. 1688 – having large or prominent teeth
• BUTTER UP
vb. 1819 sl. – to flatter; to deceive with insincere or flattering talk
• BUTTERWEED
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a dandelion
• BUTTER WEIGHT
n. 1733 obs. – the full measure of something and then some
• BUTTER WHORE
n. 1592 obs. – a woman who makes or sells butter, characterized as garrulous, argumentative, and bad-tempered
• BUTTER WIFE
n. 1542 – a woman who makes or sells butter
• BUTTER WOMAN
n. 1612 – a woman who makes or sells butter
• BUTTER WOULDN’T MELT IN HIS MOUTH
phr. 1530 – used to refer to a person who has a demure, innocent manner or appearance that conceals a bad character, underhand behaviour, etc.
• BUTTER WRAPPER
n. L19 Aust. sl. – a newspaper
• BUTTERY
adj. 1. a1585 – susceptible to flattery; smooth and ingratiating
adj. 2. 1864 – of sound, music, a voice, etc.: mellow, smooth, and pleasant
adj. 3. 1979 – of wine: having a rich, creamy flavour or smoothness similar to that of butter
adj. 4. 1990s US students’ sl. – bad
adj. 5. 2000s African-American sl. – first-rate, the best
n. c1384 hist. – a storeroom for provisions, esp. ale and other alcoholic drinks; a pantry or larder
• BUTTERY BENJIE
n. 1854 Sc. sl. obs. – a first-year student at some Scottish universities
• BUTTERY-FINGERED
adj. 1853 – having a tendency to let things fall or slip from one’s hands; clumsy, bungling
Back to INDEX B
Back to DICTIONARY
Lexicophilia 