butt-end

A carpenter carefully aligns the butt-end of two wooden planks.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The thick or heavy end of something: "butt-end" refers to the thicker or heavier end of an object, often a tool or weapon, such as a rifle or a piece of wood.
   • A joint in carpentry: In woodworking, "butt-end" can also mean the end of a piece of material (like a plank) that is joined to another piece, typically in a butt joint.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He held the rifle by its butt-end and swung it like a club. (The thick, heavy end of the gun.)
  • The carpenter carefully aligned the butt-end of the board before nailing it to the frame. (The end of the plank used for joining.)

Advanced Usage

• "to use the butt-end": to employ the thick end of an object as a tool or weapon.
  • In a struggle, he struck the attacker with the butt-end of the pistol. (He hit using the handle or stock end.)

Variants and Related Words

• Butt (n): the thick end of something, especially a rifle or cigarette.
  • He stubbed out the cigarette butt in the ashtray. (The leftover end of a smoked cigarette.)
• Butt joint (n): a simple join where two pieces are placed end-to-end without overlapping.
  • The shelf was assembled using a butt joint and glue. (A basic carpentry connection.)

Synonyms

• Stock: the part of a rifle or gun that is held against the shoulder (often synonymous with the butt-end of a firearm).
• End: the extremity or tip of an object (more general).

Related Idioms

• "butt of the joke": the person or thing that is the target of humour (related to "butt" as in target, not the thick end).
  • He was always the butt of their jokes at the office. (The person being made fun of.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Butt in: to interrupt or intrude on a conversation or situation.
  • Stop butting in when I'm talking to my boss. (Interrupting rudely.)
• Butt out: to stop interfering or intruding.
  • This is my problem, so please butt out. (Stop getting involved.)