booth

¹

[ booth ]

noun

, plural booths [boo, th, z, booths].

1. a stall, compartment, or light structure for the sale of goods or for display purposes, as at a market, exhibition, or fair.
2. a small compartment or boxlike room for a specific use by one occupant:

   The customs officer came out of his booth as we drove up.

   There aren’t many telephone booths around anymore.

3. a small, temporary structure used by voters at elections.
4. a partly enclosed compartment or partitioned area, as in a restaurant or music store, equipped for a specific use by one or more persons.
5. a temporary structure of any material, as boughs, canvas, or boards, used especially for shelter; shed.

Booth

²

[ booth; British booth ]

noun

1. Bal·ling·ton [bal, -ing-t, uh, n], 1859–1940, founder of the Volunteers of America 1896 (son of William Booth).
2. Edwin Thomas, 1833–93, U.S. actor (brother of John Wilkes Booth).
3. Evangeline Co·ry [kawr, -ee, kohr, -ee], 1865?–1950, general of the Salvation Army 1934–39 (daughter of William Booth).
4. John Wilkes, 1838–65, U.S. actor: assassin of Abraham Lincoln (brother of Edwin Thomas Booth).
5. Junius Brutus, 1796–1852, English actor (father of Edwin and John Booth).
6. William General Booth, 1829–1912, English religious leader: founder of the Salvation Army 1865.
7. William Bram·well [bram, -wel, -w, uh, l], 1856–1929, general of the Salvation Army (son of William Booth).
8. a male given name.

Booth

¹

/ buːð /

noun

1. BoothEdwin Thomas18331893MUSTHEATRE: actor Edwin Thomas , son of Junius Brutus Booth. 1833–93, US actor
2. BoothJohn Wilkes18381865MUSTHEATRE: actorCRIME AND POLICING: assassin John Wilkes , son of Junius Brutus Booth. 1838–65, US actor; assassin of Abraham Lincoln
3. BoothJunius Brutus17961852MUSEnglishTHEATRE: actor Junius Brutus (ˈdʒuːnɪəs ˈbruːtəs). 1796–1852, US actor, born in England
4. BoothWilliam18291912MBritishRELIGION: religious leader William . 1829–1912, British religious leader; founder and first general of the Salvation Army (1878)

booth

²

/ buːð; buːθ /

noun

1. a stall for the display or sale of goods, esp a temporary one at a fair or market
2. a small enclosed or partially enclosed room or cubicle, such as one containing a telephone ( telephone booth ) or one in which a person casts his or her vote at an election ( polling booth )
3. two long high-backed benches with a long table between, used esp in bars and inexpensive restaurants
4. (formerly) a temporary structure for shelter, dwelling, storage, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of booth¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English bōthe, from Old Norse būth (compare Old Danish bōth booth); cognate with German Bude

Word History and Origins

Origin of booth¹

C12: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse buth , Swedish, Danish bod shop, stall; see bower ¹

Example Sentences

Marcotte supplies examples about how people who back these things when they cast their ballot tend to also do so outside the voting booth.

From Salon

Summerall followed a distinguished NFL playing career with an even more distinguished career in the broadcast booth, most famously pairing with Madden, the former coach, for 22 seasons.

From Los Angeles Times

Polling booths there were empty an hour after opening.

From BBC

This is about women's basic right to self-determination, inside the voting booth and out.

From Salon

She will decide, she says, when she walks into the ballot booth.

From BBC

Related Words

• box
• corner
• counter
• cubicle
• hut
• pew
• stall