butt end
Low to MediumInformal, with some technical use in fields like carpentry, firearms, or textiles.
Definition
Meaning
The thick, blunt, or unused end of something, especially a tool, weapon, or piece of material.
The worst, least desirable, or least useful part of something; the leftover or remnant. Can also refer to the blunt striking end of a rifle or similar weapon.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to physical objects. Often implies a part that is discarded, unused for its primary function, or used for a secondary purpose like striking.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in American English, especially regarding firearms ('rifle butt'). In UK, 'butt' alone is often sufficient (e.g., 'rifle butt').
Connotations
Similar in both, suggesting roughness, bluntness, or inferiority of the part.
Frequency
Low-frequency compound. Understood in both varieties but not everyday vocabulary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Use [the butt end] of [a NOUN] to VERB[VERB] with the butt end of [NOUN]He was left with the butt end.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the butt end of the stick (variation of 'short end of the stick')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could metaphorically refer to the least profitable part of a deal.
Academic
Rare, except in historical or technical descriptions of tools/weapons.
Everyday
Informal, for describing the unused end of food (bread, sausage) or a tool.
Technical
Used in carpentry (lumber), firearms, billiards, and textiles (roll of fabric).
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- He used the butt end of his torch to break the glass.
- We fed the ducks with the butt ends of the loaves.
American English
- The soldier struck him with the butt end of his M16.
- Just throw the butt end of that two-by-four in the scrap pile.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I don't eat the butt end of the bread.
- The carpenter saved the butt ends of the planks for later.
- In a panic, she defended herself with the butt end of the fishing rod.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'cigarette butt' – the leftover, discarded end. A 'butt end' is similar: the leftover, often useless, blunt part of something longer.
Conceptual Metaphor
USEFUL IS SHARP/FRONT; USELESS IS BLUNT/BACK. The 'butt end' maps the concept of a useless, residual part onto the physical blunt end of an object.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'задница' (buttocks). 'Butt end' is about objects, not body parts. A closer conceptual translation might be 'тупой конец' or 'комель' (for trees/tools).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'butt' alone when 'butt end' is clearer for specificity.
- Confusing 'butt end' (blunt) with 'butt' as in 'cigarette butt' (stub).
- Misspelling as 'but end'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'butt end' MOST likely used technically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently. It is a neutral descriptive term for an object's part. However, the word 'butt' alone can be informal for buttocks, so context is key to avoid childish humour.
Only metaphorically and informally (e.g., 'the butt end of the week'), meaning the late, undesirable part. This is not a standard usage.
They are opposites. The 'butt end' is the thick, blunt, often handled end. The 'tip' is the pointed, sharp, or working end (e.g., of a pen, knife, spear).
Yes, informally for items like bread, sausages, or cucumbers, referring to the last, often crusty or uneven part that people might not eat.