[f. BUTTON-HOLE + -ER.]

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  1.  One who makes button-holes.

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1883.  Standard, 6 Nov., 2/2. The garment next goes to the ‘button-holers.’

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1884.  Graphic, 16 Aug., 166. The skirt-hands get twelve shillings a week … the button-holers fifteen.

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  2.  One who ‘button-holes’; = BUTTON-HOLDER 1.

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1874.  E. Gosse, in Academy, 447. The two great button-holers, John Gower and Thomas Heywood. Ibid. (1883), 17th Cent. Stud., 286. Malagene, Otway’s tiresome button-holer.

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  3.  colloq. A button-hole flower.

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1884.  Punch, 29 Nov., 257/1. Any young clerk who … contemplates buying a ‘button-holer,’ or sending a Valentine.

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