butler

CEFRB2

/ˈbʌt.lə(ɹ)/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A servant responsible for managing a large household.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A valet, a male personal attendant.

Examples

  • The butler announced Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

  • I wish I had a butler like Tom.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
1
Synonyms
1

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. The chief male servant of a household who has charge of other employees, receives guests, directs the serving of meals, and performs various personal services.

  2. A manservant having charge of wines and liquors.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To buttle, to dispense wines or liquors; to take the place of a butler.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The wealthy family employed a blank who managed all the household servants.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

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.