English novelist who described a fictitious land he called Erewhon (1835-1902)
"The butler in the story was actually a reference to Samuel Butler, the author of Erewhon."
English poet (1612-1680)
"John Bunyan, often called the butler of English poetry, wrote many famous works in the 17th century."
A manservant having charge of wines and liquors.
"The butler carefully arranged the vintage bottles on the sideboard before serving dinner."
In plain English: A butler is a person who takes care of all the household chores and manages things for a wealthy family.
"The butler served dinner to all the guests in the dining room."
Usage: A butler is primarily a male servant in a large household responsible for managing wine service and entertaining guests at meals. While historically focused on liquor, modern usage often applies to any senior housekeeper overseeing domestic staff regardless of gender or specific duties.
To buttle, to dispense wines or liquors; to take the place of a butler.
"After the head waiter fell ill, the senior sous chef had to step in as the de facto butler and serve the guests' champagne directly from the decanter."
In plain English: To butler something means to serve it by pouring drinks for guests at a party.
"The butlered manager showed us to our seats before handing out the drinks."
A surname.
"The Butler family has owned the estate in Scotland for three generations."
An English and Irish occupational surname, from Middle English, for someone who was a butler or wine servant.
"Many people with the surname Butler trace their family name back to an ancestor who served as a wine steward in a noble household."
The word "butler" comes from the Middle English term for an officer in charge of wine, which was borrowed from Old French and ultimately derived from a phrase meaning "bottle man." While it is technically related to the modern verb "to bottle," its specific role focused on serving drinks rather than making them.