buttery
buttery Lexical Profile
buttery Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Containing, spread with, or tasting like butter.
"The bakery is famous for its flaky, buttery croissants served warm each morning."
Having a smooth, soft, or rich texture, consistency, or quality resembling butter.
"The jacket was crafted from buttery suede that felt remarkably soft to the touch."
Excessively or insincerely flattering and effusive in manner.
"He greeted the committee with a buttery smile and a stream of rehearsed compliments."
• noun
British A room in a college or university where food, snacks, and drinks are kept and sold to students.
"After the evening lecture, the students gathered in the college buttery for tea and sandwiches."
Historically, a storeroom or cellar in a large household or monastery where casks of wine, ale, and provisions were kept.
"The medieval manor house featured a vaulted stone buttery adjacent to the great hall."
Scottish A savoury, flaky bread roll made with a high proportion of butter or lard, originating in Aberdeen, Scotland.
"She bought a bag of fresh Aberdeen butteries from the local baker for breakfast."
Word Nuance & Usage
The adjective "buttery" (from "butter") and the noun "buttery" (a storeroom or college pantry) are homonyms with entirely separate origins: the noun derives from Old French "boterie" (a storage room for casks or "butts" of wine and ale), though folk etymology later associated it with butter.
• Rhymes for buttery
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
As an adjective, formed in Middle English from "butter" plus the suffix "-y". As a noun meaning a storeroom or pantry, borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Old French "boterie", from Medieval Latin "botaria" (cask-store), derived from Late Latin "buttis" (cask, bottle) and later altered by folk association with "butter".