General
butterbar
What does butterbar mean?
A second lieutenant or ensign, named for the single gold bar of the rank insignia. Connotes inexperience.
"The butterbar tried to read the map upside down."
Origin
US military slang, from the gold ('butter'-colored) bar of an O-1.
Frequently asked questions
What is a butterbar?
Slang for a second lieutenant (or ensign), named after the single gold bar that marks the O-1 rank.
Why is a second lieutenant called a butterbar?
Because the rank insignia is a single gold bar, and gold is a 'butter' color — hence butterbar.
Does 'butterbar' imply anything?
Yes — it connotes inexperience, since a second lieutenant is the most junior commissioned officer.
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