[f. BUTLER + -SHIP.] The office of butler.
1535. Coverdale, Gen. xl. 21. And restored the chefe butlar to his butlarshipe agayne.
1587. J. Higins, Mirr. Mag. (1610), 482. Chief butlership of Normandy unto me fell.
1612. Caius Coll. MS., in Gentl. Mag. (1883), Oct., 384. [Plate] spoyled and battered at the going out of Sir Utting out of his buttlership.
1621. Bolton, Stat. Irel., 399 (an. 28 Eliz.). Any Patentee or Patentees of any the office or offices of Collectorship … or of the Butlership, or price Wines.
1829. Heath, Grocers’ Comp. (1869), 182. The Mayor’s claim to the chief butlership.
1840. Mrs. Gore, in New Monthly Mag., LX. 54. The first attempt out of livery of the clodpole she has disciplined into butlership.
