butler English · revision 2092

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbʌt.lɚ/; /ˈbʌt.lə(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|xno|butiller|t=cupbearer]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) a variant of [[fro|bouteillier|t=bottle bearer]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''bouteille'' “bottle, wine vessel”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is related to [[bottle]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A servant in charge of the wine cellar who serves the wine (about 1250; as a surname, late 12th century).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word reflects the job's original duty as chief servant in charge of the wine.^(Etymonline) At royal courts the butler was an officer who had charge of the wine for the king's table, later a high honorary title (1297).^(OED 1989) In ordinary households the role gradually grew into that of head servant,^(Etymonline) who supervises other staff, receives guests and directs the serving of meals.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The verb [[buttle]] is a back-formation.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1171 – ''butiller''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c1250 – servant in charge of the wine.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1297 – royal officer in charge of the wine.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1742 – verb, to be served by a butler.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The chief male servant of a household, in charge of serving food, the silver and the other staff.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A manservant in charge of the wines and liquors.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[butlerlike]]

+ * [[butlership]]

+ * [[butlerage]]

+ * [[underbutler]]

+ * [[buttle]]

+ * [[silent butler]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bottle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}