but

Meanings

1. 1
   conj

   Used to introduce something that contrasts with what has just been said.

   She is tired but happy after the long trip.

2. 2
   conj

   Used to introduce the opposite of a negative statement.

   It's not red but orange.

3. 3
   prep

   Except; apart from.

   Everyone but Tom came to the meeting.

4. 4
   adv

   Only; no more than.

   He is but a child and cannot understand.

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.

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