botoun

Middle English

FWOTD – 31 January 2020

Alternative forms

• botwn, botun, boton, button, butun, botown, boten

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French boton. See English button for more.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /buˈtuːn/, /ˈbutun/

Noun

botoun (plural botouns)

1. A button or decorative protrusion on garments or tools.
2. A bud, budset, or shoot; a newly-formed leaf.
3. Something that is small or of little or no value or worth.
   • c. 1340, Dan Michel, “Vridom”, in Ayenbite of Inwyt‎^[1], page 86:

     Ac hy habbeþ hire herten zuo aꝛered ine god: þet hi ne pꝛayſeþ þe woꝛdle: bote ane botoun. and hi ne dꝛedeþ kyng. ne erl. […]

     But those who have their hearts inspired by God, who don't praise the world('s ways) even a bit and who don't fear kings, earls, […]

Derived terms

• botonen

Descendants

• English: button
• Scots: button

References

• “bǒtǒun (n.)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-1-5.