BUTTY

n. (pl. -ies) 1 colloq. or dial. a mate; a companion. 2 hist. a middleman negotiating between a mine-owner and the miners. 3 a barge or other craft towed by another. øbutty-gang a gang of men contracted to work on a large job and sharing the profits equally. [19th c.: perh. f. BOOTY in phr. play booty join in sharing plunder]