But and ben

But and ben (or butt and ben) is a Scots term used to describe a small two-roomed cottage. In older structures the outside door opens into the but, beyond which through another door is the ben. The word but comes from the Old English be-ūtan or būtan, meaning “outside”, and ben from binnen, “inside”. ^[1]

In more modern buildings the but generally describes the kitchen end of the cottage, and the ben is the parlour, separated by a passage in which is the outside door.^[1]