boot

¹

[ boot ]

noun

1. a covering of leather, rubber, or the like, for the foot and ankle, and usually all or part of the leg:

   She wore knee-high boots over her jeans.

   This plaid shirt will look great with distressed black jeans and a cute pair of ankle boots.

2. an overshoe, especially one of rubber or other waterproof material:

   His rain boots protect his dress shoes from the mud.

3. any sheathlike protective covering:

   You can use a stiff piece of paper or foil as a boot for a damaged bicycle tire.

4. a protective covering for the foot and part of the leg of a horse.
5. a protecting cover or apron for the driver's seat of an open vehicle.
6. the receptacle into which the top of a convertible car fits when lowered, or the cloth covering for it.
7. British. the trunk of an automobile:

   The spare tire's in the boot.

8. a kick.
9. the boot, Slang. a dismissal; discharge:

   They gave him the boot for coming in late.

10. Computers. an act or instance of starting up a computer or program.
11. a rubber covering for the connection between each spark-plug terminal and ignition cable in an automotive ignition system.
12. Also called Denver boot. a metal device attached to the wheel of a parked car so that it cannot be driven away until a fine is paid or the owner reports to the police: used by police to catch scofflaws.
13. an instrument of torture for the leg, consisting of a kind of vise extending from the knee to the ankle, tightened around the leg by means of screws.
14. U.S. Navy, Marines. a recruit.
15. Music. the box that holds the reed in the reed pipe of an organ.
16. Informal. a sensation of pleasure or amusement:

    Watching that young skater win a gold medal gave me a real boot.

17. Baseball. a fumble of a ball batted on the ground, usually to the infield.

verb (used with object)

1. to kick; drive by kicking:

   The boy booted a tin can down the street.

2. Football. to kick.
3. Baseball. to fumble (a ground ball).
4. Computers.
   1. to start (a computer) by loading and initializing the operating system (often followed by up ):

      I can't do that on my tablet so I'll have to boot up my desktop.

   2. to start (a program) by loading the first few instructions, which will then bring in the rest (often followed by up ).
5. Slang. to expel; discharge:

   They booted him out of school for selling drugs.

6. to put boots on; equip or provide with boots.
7. to attach a Denver boot to:

   Police will boot any car with unpaid fines.

8. to torture with a vise tightened around the leg by means of screws.

verb (used without object)

1. Computers. to start a computer or program, or be started in this way (often followed by up ):

   My laptop won't boot and shows a blank screen.

boot

²

[ boot ]

noun

1. Archaic. something given into the bargain.
2. Obsolete.
   1. advantage.
   2. remedy; relief; help.

verb (used with or without object)

1. Archaic. to be of profit, advantage, or avail (to):

   It boots thee not to complain.

boot

³

[ boot ]

noun

, Archaic.

1. booty; spoil; plunder.

boot

¹

/ buːt /

verb

1. archaic.
   to be of advantage or use to (a person)

   what boots it to complain?

noun

1. obsolete.
   an advantage
2. dialect.
   something given in addition, esp to equalize an exchange

   a ten pound boot to settle the bargain

3. to boot
   as well; in addition

   it's cold and musty, and damp to boot

boot

²

/ buːt /

noun

1. a strong outer covering for the foot; shoe that extends above the ankle, often to the knee See also chukka boot top boot Wellington boots surgical boot
2. an enclosed compartment of a car for holding luggage, etc, usually at the rear US and Canadian nametrunk
3. a protective covering over a mechanical device, such as a rubber sheath protecting a coupling joining two shafts
4. a rubber patch used to repair a puncture in a tyre
5. an instrument of torture used to crush the foot and lower leg
6. a protective covering for the lower leg of a horse
7. a kick

   he gave the door a boot

8. slang.
   an ugly person (esp in the phrase old boot )
9. slang.
   a navy or marine recruit, esp one in training
10. computing short for bootstrap
11. bet one's boots
    to be certain

    you can bet your boots he'll come

12. See boots and all
13. die with one's boots on
    1. to die while still active
    2. to die in battle
14. lick the boots of
    to be servile, obsequious, or flattering towards
15. put the boot in slang.
    1. to kick a person, esp when he or she is already down
    2. to harass someone or aggravate a problem
    3. to finish off (something) with unnecessary brutality
16. the boot slang.
    dismissal from employment; the sack
17. the boot is on the other foot or the boot is on the other leg
    the situation is or has now reversed
18. too big for one's boots
    self-important or conceited

verb

1. tr (esp in football) to kick
2. tr to equip with boots
3. informal.
   tr
   1. often foll by out to eject forcibly
   2. to dismiss from employment
4. Alsoboot up to start up the operating system of (a computer) or (of a computer) to begin operating

Word History and Origins

Origin of boot¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bote, boote, from Anglo-French, Old French bote; of uncertain origin

Origin of boot²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bote, Old English bōt “advantage”; cognate with Dutch boete, German Busse, Old Norse bōt, Gothic bota; bet ¹, better ¹

Origin of boot³

First recorded in 1585–95; special use of boot ² by association with booty ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of boot¹

Old English bōt compensation; related to Old Norse bōt remedy, Gothic bōta , Old High German buoza improvement

Origin of boot²

C14 bote , from Old French, of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bet one's boots, to be sure or certain:

   You can bet your boots I'll be there!

2. boots on the ground,
   1. troops or forces who are physically present in a military campaign, law enforcement operation, or the like:

      Will NATO put boots on the ground to enforce the agreement?

   2. people who are physically present to carry out work:

      Some of our volunteers work online, and others work as boots on the ground in several locations.

3. die with one's boots on, Also especially British, die in one's boots.
   1. to die while actively engaged in one's work, profession, etc.
   2. to die fighting, especially in battle, or in some worthy cause.
4. get a boot, Informal. to derive keen enjoyment:

   I really got a boot out of his ridiculous stories.

5. to boot, in addition; besides:

   We received an extra week's pay to boot.

More idioms and phrases containing boot

• die with one's boots on
• get the ax (boot)
• kick (boot) out
• lick someone's boots
• pull oneself up (by the bootstraps)
• quake in one's boots
• to boot
• too big for one's breeches (boots)
• you can bet your ass (boots)
• shoe

Example Sentences

An inquest has been opened into the death of a woman whose body was found in the boot of a car.

From BBC

After researching his options, Mr John formed the Three Counties Bloodhounds - which take part in "clean boot hunting".

From BBC

After four months off the mountains, my walking boots are back on.

From BBC

A woman whose body was found in a car boot died of strangulation, a post-mortem examination has found.

From BBC

And, perhaps above all, run more candidates who’ve gotten dirt under their fingernails, mud on the soles of their boots or grease stains on their coveralls.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bounce
• eject
• evict
• expel
• knock
• shove