bootleg

[ boot-leg ]

noun

1. alcoholic liquor unlawfully made, sold, or transported, without registration or payment of taxes.
2. the part of a boot that covers the leg.
3. something, as a recording, made, reproduced, or sold illegally or without authorization:

   a flurry of bootlegs to cash in on the rock star's death.

verb (used with object)

, boot·legged, boot·leg·ging.

1. to deal in (liquor or other goods) unlawfully.

verb (used without object)

, boot·legged, boot·leg·ging.

1. to make, transport, or sell something, especially liquor, illegally or without registration or payment of taxes.

adjective

1. made, sold, or transported unlawfully.
2. illegal or clandestine.
3. of or relating to bootlegging.

bootleg

/ ˈbuːtˌlɛɡ /

verb

1. to make, carry, or sell (illicit goods, esp alcohol)

noun

1. something made or sold illicitly, such as alcohol during Prohibition in the US
2. an illegally made copy of a CD, tape, etc

adjective

1. produced, distributed, or sold illicitly

   bootleg whisky

   bootleg tapes

Derived Forms

• ˈbootˌlegger, noun

Other Words From

• boot·leg·ger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bootleg¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1625–35; boot ¹ + leg; secondary senses arose from practice of hiding a liquor bottle in the leg of one's boot

Word History and Origins

Origin of bootleg¹

C17: see boot ¹, leg ; from the practice of smugglers of carrying bottles of liquor concealed in their boots

Example Sentences

Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer which has caused chaos on the streets of Philadelphia, is now being found across the pond in bootleg codeine, tramadol, Valium and Xanax.

From Salon

Bennett was at his best when offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur had him rolling out for passes or running for a first down on a bootleg play.

From Los Angeles Times

At least 34 people have died after consuming toxic bootleg alcohol in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, officials said.

From BBC

A large number of the auction’s items originated from Club Dead, a fan-fueled company that produced bootleg shirts, hats, stickers and posters that were popular in the Dead community.

From Los Angeles Times

Hildebrandt said that a decade ago, dental students in her classes “were basically giving each other thumb drives with bootlegged copies of the head and neck.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contraband
• illicit
• pirated
• smuggled
• unauthorized