butt
Translation
bottom, backside, buttocks, stub
Examples
He fell on his butt.
He fell on his bottom.
He held the butt of the rifle.
He held the butt of the rifle.
Please put out your cigarette butt.
Please put out your cigarette end.
He was the butt of all their jokes.
He was the butt of all their jokes.
Grammar Patterns
((sb.'s)) butt (sb.'s) bottom He fell on his butt.
the butt of ((a weapon/tool)) the end of (a weapon/tool) He held the butt of the rifle.
((a)) cigarette butt a cigarette end Please put out your cigarette butt.
the butt of ((a joke)) the target of (a joke) He was the butt of all their jokes.
Similar Words
Etymology
From Middle English 'butte' meaning 'end, target'. Many senses relate to the concept of being the end of something.
Memory Tips
Think of the 'butt' of a rifle, the 'butt' of a cigarette, and a person's 'butt' (rear end) – they are all types of 'ends'.