「#5931. but の様々な用法 --- Kruisinga より」 ([2025-07-22-1]) および「#5932. but の様々な用法をどう評価するか --- Kruisinga より」 ([2025-07-24-1]) で触れたが，but には but what という妙な用法がある．but that としても，あるいは but 単体としても確認される用法だが，どういうわけか but what としても現われる．基本的には that . . . not の意を表わし，否定を含意する従属節を導く用法だ．Poutsma (793) に解説がある．

In good colloquial language, and even in ordinary Standard English, but what often takes the place of but that; thus in:

- I don't say but what he's as free as ever. Dick., Bleak House, Ch. XLIX, 410.
- Who knew but what he might yet be lingering in the neighbourhood? Mrs. Gask., Cranf., Ch. X, 187.

It is difficult to find a grammatical explanation of this construction. Possibly it is due to the influence of but what, often found at the head of attributive adnominal clauses, although also here there is a serious grammatical anomaly, viz. the use of what when the reference is to persons (Ch. XVI, 12), as in:

- He had no visible friends, but what had been acquired at Highbury. Jane Austen, Emma, Ch. III, 22.
- There's no Tulliver but what's honest. G. Eliot, Mill, III, Ch. IX, 243.

According to the O. E. D. (s.v. but, 30), "but what often occurs for but that in various senses and is still dial. and colloq."

　この what を強いて文法的に解釈するのならば，従属節を導くだけの機能をもつ点で虚辞とみなしてよいだろう．関連して「#2314. 従属接続詞を作る虚辞としての that」 ([2015-08-28-1]) も参照．

　・ Poutsma, H. A Grammar of Late Modern English. Part II, The Parts of Speech, II. Groningen: P. Noordhoff, 1926.

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