v. [UN-2 3.]
1. trans. To unfasten (buttons); to undo the buttons of (a garment).
c. 1325. Gloss, W. de Bibbesw., in Wright, Voc., 149. Unbotone [glossing Tachet].
c. 1530. Redforde, Play Wit & Sci. (Shaks. Soc.), 29. Unbuttun thy cote, foole; canst thow do nothyng?
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xxix. 113. Hereupon she unbottoned one of the sleeves of a red Satin Gown she had on.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, IV. xi. (Roxb.), 447/1. The oyntment being thus prepared, the Kings buttons are to be vnbuttoned.
1727. Swift, Circumcision E. Curll, Wks. 1755, III. I. 166. Six Jews … laid hands upon him, and unbuttoning his breeches threw him upon the table.
1829. Lytton, Disowned, 28. The stranger slowly unbuttoned his gaiters.
1891. C. Roberts, Adrift Amer., 118. Unbuttoning my coat I pulled my six-shooter round handy over my right hip.
fig. 1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., Wks. (Grosart), II. 124. Vnbutton thy vanity, and Vnlase thy folly.
1652. J. Wright, trans. Camus’ Nat. Paradox, V. 107. Wee shall never have done contesting … unless I quite unbutton my breast to you.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., II. vii. (1849), 64. Unbuttoning my bosom and showing him all the profitable secrets I had learnt in business.
1892. Stevenson, Across the Plains, 25. I … unbuttoned my wrath under the similitude of ironical submission.
b. With personal object. Also refl.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. ii. 3. Thou art so fat-witted with drinking of olde Sacke, and vnbuttoning thee after Supper.
1619. R. Jones, Serm. Resurr. (1659), 64. Help them, good Women! unbutton the Souldiers, ye need not fear their Halberts.
1650. Greaves, Seraglio, 5. He puts off his uppermost Coat,… then turns up his sleeves, and unbuttoneth himself.
1696. Vanbrugh, Relapse, II. i. Call a surgeon there.—Unbutton him quickly.
1784. Cowper, Tiroc., 304. The little ones, unbutton’d, glowing hot, Playing our games.
absol. 1725. Fam. Dict., s.v. Swoon, The most common way of relieving the Patient, is to throw Water in his Face; to make him lie on his Back, to unbutton or unlace.
c. absol. To undo one’s own buttons; also (quot. 1605), to become unbuttoned.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. iv. 112. Off, off you Lendings: Come, vnbutton heere.
1664. [J. Scudamore], Homer à la Mode, 54. Till th’ were so cramd with beef and mutton, That every one was faine t’unbutton.
a. 1697. Aubrey, Lives (1898), I. 110. A man that is buttond or laced too hard, must unbutton before he can be at his ease.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 142. Gluttony stuffs till it pants, and unbuttons and stuffs again.
1817–8. Cobbett, Resid. U.S. (1822), 201. You are here disgusted with none of those eaters by reputation that are found … in England: fellows that unbutton at it.
2. transf. To open up or unfold (a bud).
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xxxvii. It swells into small knobs or buttons…. Suppose you should unbutton it as soon as it swells,… would you not endanger the spoiling of its beauties?
Hence Unbuttoning vbl. sb.
1591. Percivall, Desabotonadura, vnbuttoning.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. p. xxxi. With the unbuttoning of a strap … three legs unfold and give us a most rigid Tripod.
