Buttons
[bʌtəns]
Definition
(n.) A boy servant, or page, -- in allusion to the buttons on his livery.
Checker: Marty
Unserious Contents or Definition
To dream of sewing bright shining buttons on a uniform, betokens to a young woman the warm affection of a fine looking and wealthy partner in marriage. To a youth, it signifies admittance to military honors and a bright career. Dull, or cloth buttons, denotes disappointments and systematic losses and ill health. The loss of a button, and the consequent anxiety as to losing a garment, denotes prospective losses in trade.
Typist: Meg
Examples
- Contemplation of Mr Dorrit's waistcoat buttons by Mr Merdle. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Here Mr. Casaubon paused, removed one hand from his back and thrust it between the buttons of his single-breasted coat. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Why, what do you make out that they done with their buttons then, Jack? Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- The unsuspecting Sloppy was at that moment airing his many buttons within view of the window. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- And--dash it--old chap, give him these gold sleeve-buttons: it's all I've got. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- He had little jewelled buttons in the lawn shirt fronts. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Poor Sloppy flushed too, for there was an instinctive delicacy behind his buttons, and his own hand had struck it. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- She had on a black velvet polonaise with jet buttons, and a tiny green monkey muff; I never saw her so stylishly dressed, Janey continued. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- At seventy five I expect to wear loud waistcoats with fancy buttons; also gaiter tops; at eighty I expect to learn how to play bridge whist and talk foolishly to the ladies. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- I will see that the buttons of the recruits are properly bright and that the sergeants make no mistakes in their accounts. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- I lay at full length along the deck with the levers and buttons of control before me. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- His coat, that used to be so glossy and trim, was white at the seams, and the buttons showed the copper. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Mr Sloppy introduced himself by name and buttons. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Here, Mr Sloppy opening his mouth to a quite alarming extent, and throwing back his head to peal again, revealed incalculable buttons. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- The evening hunt-dress is red, lined with white; and the buttons and whole style of it are very becoming. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- He was habited in a coarse, striped waistcoat, with black calico sleeves, and blue glass buttons; drab breeches and leggings. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- She did not say anything but slipped her hand inside of his shirt and he felt her undoing the shirt buttons and she said, You, too. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Done with their buttons? Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- How those sleeve-buttons will suit me! William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Yes, I think it rather pretty,' said the beadle, glancing proudly downwards at the large brass buttons which embellished his coat. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Die-sinking is the art of preparing dies for stamping coins, buttons, medallions, jewelry, fittings, etc. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- She had seen the buttons, and was sure that they belonged to the clothes which he had worn last night. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- His bright buttons, too, were of the largest size. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- He wore a glazed hat, an ancient boat-cloak, and shoes; his brass buttons bearing an anchor upon their face. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- He soon made it plain that this was so; for, in another day or two he sent off his sleeve-buttons and finger-rings. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- He sported a military frock-coat, ornamented with frogs, knobs, black buttons, and meandering embroidery. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- It has always large dull metal buttons, similar to no other buttons. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Done with their buttons! Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- The small boy in buttons carried the package. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- He wore a black velvet waistcoat, with thunder-and-lightning buttons; and a blue striped shirt, with a white false collar. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
Typist: Meg