Word
butler
Phoneticsbut·ler
US/ˈbətɫɝ/
UK/bˈʌtlɐ/
Definitions
01head servant
n. the main male servant in a large house who manages other workers and welcomes guests.
n. the chief male servant of a household, typically responsible for supervising other staff, receiving guests, and managing the pantry and wine cellar.
“The butler opened the front door and took the guests' coats.”
“The butler maintained the household's strict schedule, ensuring that the footmen were prepared for the arrival of the visiting dignitaries.”
Teaching tip
In modern contexts, this often refers to a luxury service in high-end hotels rather than a permanent live-in position.
Synonyms
02to work as a butler
v. to work or serve as a butler.
v. to perform the duties of a butler; to manage the service of food and drink in a formal capacity.
“He spent twenty years butlering for a wealthy family in London.”
“Having butlered for several aristocratic families, he possessed an intimate knowledge of formal dining etiquette and vintage wines.”
Formal
Usage
The verb form is much less common than the noun and is often replaced by the informal 'buttle'.
Teaching tip
This verb is rare in modern speech; students will mostly encounter the noun form.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Jones was watching Wimbledon on TV in the early 2010s when a butler offered the younger men drinks, C said.” Etymology
* (English surname): From Middle English Butler. * (Anglicized surname): From French Boutilier, Boutillier, Bouthillier. * (placename): From the surname
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/butler