"Heaven from all creation hides the book of fate
All but (save, except) the page prescribed our present state."
"When nought but (leave out) the torrent is heard on the hill,
And nought but (save) the nightingale's song in the grove."
"Nothing but fear restrains him." In these cases the direct objects of the verb, the things to be omitted are expressed.
But is also derived from botan, which signifies to add, superadd, join or unite; as, in the old form of a deed, "it is butted and bounded as follows." Two animals butt their heads together. The butt of a log is that end which was joined to the stump. A butt, butment or a-butment is the joined end, where there is a connexion with something else. A butt of ridicule is an object to which ridicule is attached.
"Not only saw he all that was,
But (add) much that never came to pass."
M'Fingal.
To button, butt-on, is derived from the same word, to join one side to the other, to fasten together. It was formerly spelled botan, boote, bote, bot, butte, bute, but. It is still spelled boot in certain cases as a verb; as,
"What boots it thee to fly from pole to pole,
Hang o'er the earth, and with the planets roll?
What boots ( ) thro space's fartherest bourns to roam,
If thou, O man, a stranger art at home?"
Grainger.
"If love had booted care or cost."