butch (n.)

"tough youth," 1902, first attested in nickname of U.S. outlaw George Cassidy (1866-?), probably an abbreviation of butcher (n.). Sense of "aggressive lesbian" is by 1940s. As an adjective by 1941.

Entries linking to butch

butcher (n.)

c. 1300, "one who slaughters animals for market," from Anglo-French boucher, from Old French bochier "butcher, executioner" (12c., Modern French boucher), probably literally "slaughterer of goats," from bouc "male goat," from Frankish *bukk or some other Germanic source (see buck (n.1)) or Celtic *bukkos "he-goat." Figurative sense of "brutal murderer, one who kills indiscriminately or cruelly" is attested from 1520s. Related: Butcherly. Old English had flæscmangere "butcher" ('flesh-monger').

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updated on September 05, 2017

Definitions of butch from WordNet

butch (n.)

(slang) offensive term for a lesbian who is noticeably masculine;

Synonyms: dike / dyke

butch (n.)

a closely cropped haircut; usually for men or boys;

Synonyms: crew cut / flattop

butch (adj.)

used of men; markedly masculine in appearance or manner;

Synonyms: macho

butch (adj.)

(of male or female homosexuals) characterized by stereotypically male traits or appearance;

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near butch

busybody

busyness

busy-work

but

butane

butch

butcher

butcher-knife

butchery

butler

butt