Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to buttle

to buttle

9.9
To work as a butler and serve guests in a house
  • verb
  • Archaic
: servir
  • After finishing his training, he was eager to buttle for the distinguished guests at the gala.

Examples

  • If you wish to learn how to buttle, you should pay attention to how the experienced staff handle their duties.

  • -I buttle, sir.

    Clue (1985)

  • - Can you "buttle"?

    My Man Godfrey (1936)

  • But I still want to know why you're buttling, when your family is telling everybody that you're in South America.

    My Man Godfrey (1936)

  • Now buttle off and tell Baron Brunwald that Lord Clarence MacDonald and his lovely assistant are here to view the tapestries.

    Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

  • The butler was expected to buttle during the formal dinner party, ensuring everyone was served properly.

Synonyms

to squire
vsto buttle
1 8.6

To go with someone and act as their polite escort at events

focuses on domestic service rather than polite accompaniment
to fetch and carry
vsto buttle
  • Informal
1 5.7

To do small, simple tasks or errands for someone in charge

serves a whole household with formal domestic duties and management

How Formal

to buttle
  • Archaic
9.9
to attend
  • Formal
46 7.2
to serve
∞ 1.7
to assist
497 1.0
help
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

buttle infinitive
buttled past
buttled past participle
buttling present participle
buttles third person singular

Etymology

Buttle comes from the word butler, which originally meant 'bottle-keeper' because the butler looked after the household wine and bottles, so to buttle is to act like a butler — to serve guests and look after the house.