n. [ OE. boteler, F. bouteillier a bottle-bearer, a cupbearer, fr. LL. buticularius, fr. buticula bottle. See Bottle a hollow vessel. ] An officer in a king's or a nobleman's household, whose principal business it is to take charge of the liquors, plate, etc.; the head servant in a large house. [ 1913 Webster ]
The butler and the baker of the king of Egypt. Gen. xl. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]
Your wine locked up, your butler strolled abroad. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (O. Eng. Law) A duty of two shillings on every tun of wine imported into England by merchant strangers; -- so called because paid to the king's butler for the king. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The office of a butler. [ 1913 Webster ]