butch

butch · adjective, noun

imported

Definitions

adjective, noun

  1. 1.

    [informal]Having an appearance or manner traditionally associated with men; masculine in appearance or behavior.

  2. 2.

    [informal]A lesbian or queer person who presents in a masculine way.

  3. 3.

    (In LGBTQ+ contexts) Describing a lesbian or queer woman who presents in a masculine way.

Related words

Antonyms: feminine, femme
See also: femme, lesbian, masculine
Synonyms: macho, masculine, tough

Etymology

Origin uncertain; possibly from butcher or from the nickname "Butch" (itself a shortening of "butcher"), used for tough or masculine men since the early 20th century. The term was adopted in lesbian communities by the 1940s.