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butter

to earth up

verb bü-TEH Rare
Animals & Nature Plants

Origin: from butte (mound, hillock)

Also means

to hill (plants)

Usage Note

Butter in gardening means to mound soil around the base of a plant to protect it or encourage root growth — the standard technique for potatoes (butter les pommes de terre) and leeks. It is completely unrelated to the English word 'butter'. The past participle butté is used adjectivally: des plants buttés (earthed-up seedlings). A related term is buttage (the act of earthing up).

Examples

"Il faut butter les pommes de terre en mai."

Natural Translation

You have to earth up the potatoes in May.

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