Etymology Map
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Button

3 stages from Old French to English.

Today it means a small disc for fastening clothes; a knob pressed to operate a device

Where does the word "button" come from? It comes from Old French boter, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
boter
Old French · medieval
"to push"
a verb of Germanic origin meaning to push or thrust, related to 'butt'
2
Stage 2 of 3
boton
Old French · medieval
"bud; knob"
a bud or knob pushing out, then a knob for fastening clothes
3
Stage 3 of 3
button
English · 1300s
"a small fastener"
the push-button for machines came with electricity in the 1800s
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Read the full story

Button’s story begins in Old French: boter meant “to push.” A verb of Germanic origin meaning to push or thrust, related to 'butt'. Within Old French, it grew into boton by medieval. A bud or knob pushing out, then a knob for fastening clothes. It reached English by 1300s as button. The push-button for machines came with electricity in the 1800s. Today, button means a small disc for fastening clothes; a knob pressed to operate a device.