button man

noun

: a low-ranking member of a criminal underworld organization

Examples of button man in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Best button man in the biz. Craig Thomas, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2021

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from buttons bellhop

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of button man was in 1963

Dictionary Entries Near button man

Cite this Entry

“Button man.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/button%20man. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on button man

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!