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but·ton·hole

(bŭtn-hōl′)

1. A small slit in a garment or piece of fabric for fastening a button.

2. Chiefly British A boutonniere.

tr.v. but·ton·holed, but·ton·hol·ing, but·ton·holes

1. To make a buttonhole in.

2. To sew with a buttonhole stitch.

3. To accost and detain (a person) in conversation: "He was also frequently buttonholed by White House lobbyists" (Terence Moran).

[V., sense 3, probably alteration of button-hold.]

button·hol′er n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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