1916: butt Mar 14, 2020

There is some uncertainty as to where 'butt' originates, but there are some clues to get to the bottom of this. Basically, one idea is that is comes from a Germanic root meaning 'to strike'. This is supported by Germanic words, but also the verbs and 'butt' and 'bunt', as well as the word 'buttress' from 'boter' meaning 'to hit' or 'thrust'. On the other hand, it could come from the Old English 'buttac' which referred to the end of a small strip of land; 'butt' still hold this meaning in Modern English. Ultimately, it could be both, or they could all stem from an older Proto-Germanic or even Proto-Indo-European root, given that similar words in this pattern exist in many other Indo-European languages today.

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