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butt

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The definition of a butt is the end of something, or is short for the buttocks.

(noun)

An example of butt is the end of a cigarette.
An example of butt is the part of the body on which people sit.

See butt in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the thick end of anything, as of a whip handle, rifle stock, etc.
the remaining end of anything; stub; stump; specif., the stub of a smoked cigarette or cigar
1. Origin: ? infl. by Fr butte, mound < OFr buter
  a mound of earth, bales of straw, etc. behind a target, for receiving fired rounds or shot arrows
2. a target
3. a target range
a hole in the ground used as a blind by hunters of fowl
an object of ridicule or criticism
Slang a cigarette
Informal the buttocks
Obsolete
1. a limit
2. a goal
Tanning the part of a hide or pelt that covered the animal's backside

Origin: < several bases, variously confused in E or Fr: ME but, butte, thick end, ? akin to ON būtr, block of wood, Du bot, stumpy, stocky, or ? < OFr bout, end < buter (see butt); ME but, target, boundary < MFr bout, aim, goal, < abuter, to aim < à, at (< L ad) + but, goal (< ?)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to join end to end

transitive verb

to strike or push with the head or horns; ram with the head
to strike or bump against
to abut on
to make abut: (on, upon, or against)

Origin: ME butten, to drive, thrust < OFr buter (< Frank *botan), to thrust against: for IE base see beat

intransitive verb

to make a butting motion
to move or drive headfirst
to stick out; project
to abut

noun

a thrust with the head or horns
a thrust in fencing

Origin: ME; prob. < OFr buter, or < the v.

noun

a large barrel or cask, as for wine or beer
a measure of liquid capacity equal to 126 gal or two hogsheads (108 imperial gal)

Origin: ME butte < OFr botte < ML butta < LL buttis, cask

noun

any of various flatfishes, as the halibut or turbot

Origin: ME butte, but; prob. < MLowG butte (> Swed butta, Du bot, Ger butte) < adj. butte, lumpy: akin to butt

See butt in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb butt·ed, butt·ing, butts

verb, transitive

To hit or push against with the head or horns; ram.

verb, intransitive

To hit or push something with the head or horns.
To project forward or out.

noun

A push or blow with the head or horns.

Phrasal Verbs: butt in To interfere or meddle in other people's affairs. butt out Slang To leave someone alone. To leave; depart.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English butten

Origin: , from Old French bouter, to strike

Origin: , of Germanic origin; see bhau- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

buttˈer noun

tr. & intr.v. butt·ed, butt·ing, butts

To join or be joined end to end; abut.

noun

A butt joint.
A butt hinge.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English butten

Origin: , from Anglo-Norman butter (variant of Old French bouter; see butt¹)

Origin: and from but, end; see butt⁴

noun

One that serves as an object of ridicule or contempt: I was the butt of their jokes.
a. A target, as in archery or riflery.
b. butts A target range.
c. An obstacle behind a target for stopping the shot.
An embankment or hollow used as a blind by hunters of wildfowl.
a. Archaic A goal.
b. Obsolete A bound; a limit.