The Butler Was Originally in Charge of the Bottles
A butler is a senior household servant. The title comes from the bottle, and specifically from the wine cellar.
A butler is the senior male servant of a household. The job description is in the name: Old French *bouteillier* meant bottle-bearer, the servant responsible for the wine cellar. Wine was valuable enough that the man who controlled it outranked everyone else below stairs, and the title rose with the responsibility.
- A senior household servant. *The family butler.*
- Butler's pantry — a service room. *Through the butler's pantry.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | butler | The head butler. |
| Plural | butlers | Two butlers. |
| Related | valet | A gentleman's valet. |
| Related | housekeeper | The housekeeper. |
| Related | bottle | From the same root. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The butler answered the door.Traditional duty.
- The butler's pantry stores the silver.A service room between kitchen and dining room.
- A valet attends the master personally.A different post.
The household hierarchy
- Butler — head of the male staff, in charge of the cellar and dining room
- Housekeeper — head of the female staff
- Valet — the master's personal attendant
- Footman — served at table and attended the family
- Cook or chef — ran the kitchen, sometimes independently of both
From Anglo-French *buteler*, from Old French *bouteillier*, bottle-bearer, from *bouteille*, bottle. The royal Butler of England was once a high office of state.
Butler or valet?
A butler runs the household staff. A valet attends one man personally, looking after his clothes and appointments.
What is a butler's pantry?
A service room between kitchen and dining room where silver, glass and china are stored and dishes are prepared for serving.