Etymology

button

but·ton
B3U1T1T1O1N1

Today it means: A knob or disc that is passed through a loop or (buttonhole), serving as a fastener. Full definition →

First used mid-13th c.Middle English boton ← Old French boton
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button · noun1

  1. Old French · derived frombouter
  2. Old French · derived fromboton
  3. Middle English · inherited fromboton
  4. English todaybutton

From Middle English boton, botoun, from Old French boton (Modern French bouton), from Old French bouter, boter (“to push; thrust”), ultimately from a Germanic language. Doublet of bouton, Biden, and beat. More at butt.

button · verb2

  1. Middle English · inherited frombutonen
  2. English todaybutton

From Middle English butonen, botonen, from the noun (see above).

First known use, by meaning

  • from mid-13th c. A knob or disc that is passed through a loop or (buttonhole), serving as a fastener.
  • from late 14th c. To fasten with a button.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.