but

Etymology

From Middle English but, buten, boute, bouten, from Old English būtan (“without, outside of, except, only”), from Proto-West Germanic *biūtan, *biūtini, equivalent to be- + out. Cognate with Scots but, bot (“outside, without, but”), Saterland Frisian buute (“without”), West Frisian bûten (“outside of, apart from, other than, except, but”), Dutch buiten (“outside”), Dutch Low Saxon buten (“outside”), German Low German buuten, buute (“outside”), obsolete German baußen (“outside”), Luxembourgish baussen. Compare bin, about. Eclipsed non-native Middle English mes (“but”) borrowed from Old French mes, mais (> French mais (“but”)).

prep

1. Apart from, except (for), excluding.
   Everyone but Father left early.
   I like everything but that.
   Nobody answered the door when I knocked, so I had no choice but to leave.
   Luiz struggled with the movement of Helguson in the box, as he collected a long ball and the Spaniard barged him over, leaving referee Chris Foy little option but to point to the spot. 2011-10-23, Becky Ashton, “QPR 1-0 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport
2. (obsolete outside Scotland) Outside of.
   Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there.

adv

1. (chiefly literary or poetic) Merely, only, just, no more than
   Christmas comes but once a year.
   For to see her was to love her, Love but her, and love for ever. 1791, Robert Burns, Ae Fond Kiss
   Black Knight: "'Tis but a scratch." King Arthur: "A scratch? Your arm's off!" 1975, Monty Python, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
   The stony outcrops are often covered but thinly with arable soil; winters are bitingly cold, and rainfall scanty and unpredictable. 1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 49
   May the Protector of the Buddhist Faith grant me but seven more days grace of life to be quit of this disloyal couple, father and son. 1990, Claude de Bèze, translated by E. W. Hutchinson, 1688 revolution in Siam: the memoir of Father de Bèze, s.j, University Press, page 153
2. (Australia, Tyneside, conjunctive) Though, however.
   I'll have to go home early but.
   "Supposin' the chap ain't dead, but?" Regan persisted. 1906, "Steele Rudd", Back At Our Selection, page 161

conj

1. However, although, nevertheless, on the other hand (introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence).
   She is very old but still attractive.
   You told me I could do that, but she said that I could not.
2. On the contrary, rather (as a regular adversative conjunction, introducing a word or clause in contrast or contradiction with the preceding negative clause or sentence).
   I am not rich but [I am] poor.  Not John but Peter went there.
3. (colloquial) Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark.
   But I never said you could do that!
   Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits. Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found. 2013-07-19, Ian Sample, “Irregular bedtimes may affect children's brains”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 34
   Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee. 2013-06-29, “Travels and travails”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 55
4. Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".
   I cannot but feel offended.
5. (colloquial) Used to link an interjection to the following remark as an intensifier.
   Wow! But that's amazing!
   "Jakers, but we worked." With a long breath she shut her eyes. "But it was too much for one woman and a half-grown girl […]" 2013, Nora Roberts, Irish Thoroughbred, Little, Brown, page 25
6. (archaic) Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).
   It never rains but it pours.
7. (obsolete) Except with; unless with; without.
8. (obsolete) Only; solely; merely.
9. (obsolete) Until.
10. (obsolete, following a negated expression of improbability) That.
    It is not impossible but next year I may have the honour of waiting on your Lordship at St. Asaph, If I go to Ireland I certainly will go that way. 1784, Joshua Reynolds, edited by John Ingamells and John Edgcumbe, The Letters of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Yale, published 2000, page 131
    “I am convinced, if you were to press this matter earnestly upon her, she would consent.” “It is not impossible but she might,” said Madame de Seidlits […]. 1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt, published 2008, page 132
    It is not improbable but future observations will add Pliny's Well to the class of irregular reciprocators. 1813 July, Journal of Natural Philosophy

noun

1. An instance or example of using the word "but".
   It has to be done – no ifs or buts.
2. (Scotland) The outer room of a small two-room cottage.
3. A limit; a boundary.
4. The end; especially the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end; the butt.

verb

1. (archaic) Use the word "but".
   But me no buts.