Late 18th century; earliest use found in George Staunton (1737–1801), physician and diplomatist. From red + button, after Chinese hóng dǐngzi coral button indicating the first and second ranks of the Qing bureaucracy from hóng red + dǐngzi rank button (also dǐngdài; from dǐng crown of the head + dài to wear; compare zi, diminutive suffix). Chinese zǒngbīng denotes a particular one of the these ranks.