Butler Meaning
/ˈbʌt.lə(ɹ)/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA manservant having charge of wines and liquors.
nounThe chief male servant of a household who has charge of other employees, receives guests, directs the serving of meals, and performs various personal services.
Sentence Examples
The butler announced Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
I wish I had a butler like Tom.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The wealthy family employed a ____ who managed all the household servants.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ opened the front door and welcomed the guests to the house.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English butler, butlere, boteler, botelere, from Old French buttiler, butiller, boteillier (“officer in charge of wine”), from Medieval Latin botellārius, equivalent to bottle + -er. Piecewise doublet of bottler.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"“One marble hall, with staircase complete, one butler and three flunkeys to receive a retired sojer who dares to ring the bell. D'you know, old boy, I gave my bowler to the butler, whangee to one flunkey, gloves to another, and there was the fourth poor blighter looking like an orphan at a Mothers' Meeting. …""
— 1929, Baldwyn Dyke Acland, chapter 2, in Filibuster:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The wealthy family employed a ____ who managed all the household servants.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ opened the front door and welcomed the guests to the house.