An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Butzen

by Friedrich Kluge

Butzen, m., ‘core, snuff (of candles),’ first occurs in ModHG.; cognate with the equiv. Swiss bœ̄ke, f. (bätzi, bätzgi). The structure of the word resembles ModHG. (dial.) Großen; see under Griebs. Probably, therefore, represents *bugze, *bûgaȥ (Swiss bœ̄ke, from *bauggyô)?.