Meaning of bell button | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A small, round mechanical device which, when pressed, rings a bell to announce one's presence or call a servant, assistant, etc.
2. A button in the form of a jingle bell, used as a fastener or decoration on a piece of clothing.

Examples

“She hated the row of key-and-mail boxes on the wall, with the bell buttons above each apartment number⟳. She hated the jangling of the hall telephone, the scurrying to answer⟳, the prodding of whichever bell button would summon the tenant asked for by the caller.”

“He pressed the bell-button set⟳ in the frame of a door marked 611. The door was opened immediately by a diminutive girl […]”

““[…] bring⟳ me some brandy.” “That’s the room-service, sir,” said the valet, giving the waiter’s bell-button a vicious push⟳ as he went out.”

“K. Altremont, he read⟳, shielding his eyes from the rain⟳ while he studied the illuminated bell buttons.”

“1775, James Adair, The History of the American Indians, London: Edward and Charles Dilly, Chapter , Argument 17, p. 171, […] the young warriors now frequently fasten bell-buttons, or pieces of tinkling brass to their maccaseenes, and to the outside of their boots, instead of the old turky-cock-spurs which they formerly used.”

“Now when a country dandy like⟳ this takes it into his head to make⟳ a distinguished reputation, and joins the great whale-fishery, you should see⟳ the comical things he does upon reaching the seaport. In bespeaking his sea-outfit, he orders bell-buttons to his waistcoats; straps to his canvas trowsers.”

“I haven’t the advantage of being a girl with a brother and a baker’s dozen of beaux in bell buttons and gray.”

““I’m quite ready now,” she said calmly, and drew the Chinese slippers over her bare feet and passed a silken loop over the silver bell buttons on her right shoulder.”

CEFR level