[Perh. a special use of BUTT sb.3 in sense 1 (the notion of ‘thick end’ being extended into ‘thickest part’), or in sense 3 ‘buttock.’]
The thicker or hinder part of a hide or skin, as horse-butts, calf-butts, kip-butts, shoe-butts; esp. the hide of the back and flanks of an ox or cow reduced to a rough rectangle by ‘rounding’ (see BEND sb.2 4); the thick leather made from this part; sole-leather.
1661. Act 14 Chas. II., 141. Whereas divers Tanners do shave cut and rake … the necks of their backs, and buts, to the great impairing thereof.
1686. Lond. Gaz., No. 2124/4. Stolen … about 350 of the best Kids … writ in the Butt of the Skins.
1776. Excise-book, in Dorset County Chron. (1881), 2 June. [Kinds of hides] sheep and lamb, butts and backs, calves and kips.
1822. Imison, Sc. & Art, II. 202. Butts are generally made from the stoutest and heaviest ox hides.
1886. Leeds Mercury, 4 March, 6/5. English butts and bends have been quietly dealt in.
1887. Daily News, 31 Aug., 6/7. (Leather) English butt of stout substance … and heavy English bellies.
