more searches
7 wordies list

buttery

(n): a small storeroom for storing foods or wines
( more... )
Leave a comment, citation, or private note
5 days ago chained_bear said:

I don't know for sure, but that's a fairly reasonable assumption. I'll see what I can find when I have more time.

Edit: Here's what OED says about its etymology:
"app. a. OF. boterie = bouteillerie (Godef.):late L. botria, f. bota, var. of butta cask, bottle; see BUTT n.5 The transition from the sense of ‘store-room for liquor’ to that of ‘store-room for provisions generally’ is in accordance with analogy, but may have been helped by association with BUTTER n.1."

So you were right. :)

5 days ago reesetee said:

C_b, I'm guessing this comes from "butt" meaning cask. Do you know whether that's the case?

5 days ago chained_bear said:

In castles, the room where wine was dispensed from barrels. Usually located between the hall and the kitchen. A store room for provisions.

Register or login to leave a comment.
first listed by:
andrew.simone (420 words)
appears in these lists: