Obs. [Possibly f. BUTTER sb.1 (the implement being compared in form to a ‘cheese-taster’) + BORE sb.1 5; but cf. Fr. bouterot, boutereau, bouterolle, denoting pointed instruments for punching or boring.] (See quot.)
1679. Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 109. Who if he have ground to suspect any of the pots, tryes them with an instrument of Iron made like a Cheese-Taster, only much largerand longer, called an Auger or Butterboare, with which he makes proof (thrusting it in obliquely) to the bottom of the pot.
