button
UK[ˈbʌtn̩]US[ˈbʌtn̩]
n
A small disc or knob sewn onto a garment, which is passed through a slit (buttonhole) to fasten or close it.
n
A small device on a piece of electronic equipment that is pressed to operate it.
v
To fasten or close something with buttons.
Etymology
The word 'button' entered English in the 14th century from Old French 'boton', which meant 'a bud' or 'a knob'. The French term derived from the verb 'boter', meaning 'to thrust' or 'to push', a word of Germanic origin, related to the Middle Dutch 'boten' (to push) and the Old Norse 'bauta' (to strike). This etymological journey from an action ('to push') to an object ('a bud' or 'knob') perfectly captures the function of a button, which is a small, bud-like protrusion designed to be pushed through an opening. The semantic shift from a botanical bud to a fastening device reflects the visual and functional similarity between the two.
Analysis
The word 'button' is a simplex word, a direct borrowing from Old French 'boton', meaning 'a bud, a knob'. Its ultimate origin is from the Germanic root butt-, meaning 'to push, to strike', which relates to the action of pushing a knob through a hole.
Examples
He quickly fastened the top button of his shirt.
Press the red button to start the recording.
She helped the child button up his winter coat.