ETYM Old Eng. butrasse, boterace, from French bouter to push; cf. Old Fren. bouteret (nom. sing. and acc. pl. bouterez) buttress. Related to Butt an end, and cf. Butteris.
/> (Irregular plural: buttresses).
Usually or stone or brick; supports the wall of a building; SYN. buttressing.
In brickwork or masonry, a reinforcement built against a wall to give it strength. A flying buttress is an arc transmitting the force of the wall to be supported to an outer buttress, a feature common in Gothic architecture.

1. To support a wall with buttresses.
2. To make stronger or defensible.