Dictionary

boot en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /buːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /bʉːt/ (Australia)
• /bʉt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• bo͞ot
• /bʉwt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /but/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English boote, bote (“shoe”), from Old French bote (“a high, thick shoe”). Of obscure origin, but probably related to Old French bot (“club-foot”), bot (“fat, short, blunt”), from Old Frankish *butt, from Proto-Germanic *buttaz, *butaz (“cut off, short, numb, blunt”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewt-, *bʰewd- (“to strike, push, shock”); if so, a doublet of butt. Compare Old Norse butt (“stump”), Low German butt (“blunt, plump”), Old English bytt (“small piece of land”), buttuc (“end”). More at buttock and debut.

Meanings

1. (qualifier:footwear) A heavy shoe that covers part of the leg.
2. (qualifier:footwear) A heavy shoe that covers part of the leg. ▸ A kind of sports shoe worn by players of certain games such as cricket and football (historically in the form of boots, now shorter, but still called the same).
3. (uncountable) A blow with the foot; a kick.
4. A flexible cover of rubber or plastic, which may be preformed to a particular shape and used to protect a shaft, lever, switch, or opening from dust, dirt, moisture, etc.
5. (figuratively, with-definite-article) Oppression, an oppressor.
   • Never in its long history, and one rich with brutal inequities too, had Paris known the disgrace of seeing one section of its community prosper under the boot of an invader 1989, Gilles Perrault, Pierre Azema, Paris Under the Occupation:
   • Dr. Jayakar was not only one of them but was at places the prime mover in the historic decisions taken by a nation struggling to get free of the British boot. 1958, Filmindia:
   • Chronic unrest in Ireland, long under the British boot, was about to culminate in a popular rising. 2013 October 8, Stanley Weintraub, Young Mr. Roosevelt: FDR's Introduction to War, Politics, and Life, Hachette UK, →ISBN:
6. (qualifier:usually preceded by definite article) A torture device used on the feet or legs, such as a Spanish boot.
   • The boot, thumbscrews, the shackles, and a contraption called the "warm hose", were only a few of the inflictions being too terrible to mention. 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 221:
7. (US) A parking enforcement device used to immobilize a car until it can be towed or a fine is paid; a wheel clamp.
8. A rubber bladder on the leading edge of an aircraft’s wing, which is inflated periodically to remove ice buildup; a deicing boot.
9. (obsolete) A place at the side of a coach, where attendants rode; also, a low outside place before and behind the body of the coach.
   • [T]he young man helped the young lady, half-swooning, inside, and Egbert, Murial Jane and Silvander Dan climbed on to the boot which was a handsome high-seat at the back. 1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 23:
10. (archaic) A place for baggage at either end of an old-fashioned stagecoach.
11. (Australia, New-Zealand, South-Africa, UK) The luggage storage compartment of a sedan or saloon car.
    • Peers leant against the outside of the car a lit up her filter tip and watched as Bauer and Putin placed their compact suitcases in the boot of the BMW and slammed the boot lid down. 2008, MB Chattelle, Richmond, London: The Peter Hacket Chronicles, page 104:
    • He heaved the bag and its contents over the lip of the boot and on to the flagstones. When it was out, no longer in that boot but on the ground, and the bag was still intact, he knew the worst was over. 1998, Ruth Rendell, A Sight For Sore Eyes, published 2010, page 260:
    • The body is constructed of welded steel panels, with the bonnet, doors and boot lid in aluminium on steel frames. 2003, Keith Bluemel, Original Ferrari V-12 1965-1973: The Restorer's Guide, unnumbered page:
12. (informal, with-definite-article) The act or process of removing or firing someone (dismissing them from a job or other post).
    • He was useless so he got the boot.
13. (UK, slang) An unattractive person, ugly woman.
    • old boot
14. (US, slang) A recently arrived recruit; a rookie.
    • Did you even go to OCS, you complete and utter boot!? 2020 November 2, JoshScorcher, “Top Ten Hated Characters We're Supposed to Like”, in YouTube:
15. (US, plural, usually) A soldier, especially a footsoldier.
    • We do not anticipate there will be US boots on the ground to help quell the violence.
16. (ethnic, slang, slur) A black person.
    • My Dad has taught me that in England some foolish man may call me sambo, darkie, boot or munt or nigger, even. 1964 [1957], Colin MacInnes, City of Spades, London: Penguin Books, page 22:
17. A hard or rigid case for a long firearm, typically moulded to the shape of the gun.
    • They drew in their horses and dismounted. The others riding ahead were already out of sight in the darkness. Beyond them shone the lights of Bou Saada. Tarzan removed his rifle from its boot and loosened his revolver in its holster. 1913 June–December, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Fight in the Desert”, in The Return of Tarzan, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, […], published March 1915, →OCLC, page 107:
18. A bobbled ball.
19. The inflated flag leaf sheath of a wheat plant.
20. (slang) A linear amplifier used with CB radio.
    • Because of overcrowding, many a CB enthusiast (called an "apple") is strapping an illegal linear amplifier ("boots") on to his transceiver ("ears") […] 1977, New Scientist, volume 74, page 764:
21. (slang) A tyre.
22. (US) A crust end-piece of a loaf of bread.

Forms

Deriveds

knock boots · kicking boots · Beatle boot · couldn't pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel · go-go boot · trench boot · bootlace · boot room · Jesus boots · bootspace · order of the boot · boot storm · bootmaking · half-boot · jack boot · boot lip · boot-studder · tough as old boots · ankle boot · gumboot · jack-boot · sly-boot · Wellington boot · boot money · horse boot · boot verb · chukka boot · ski boot · fill one's boots · roller boot · roping boot · gravity boots · bootsole · boot boy · boottree · shake in one's boots · Australian boot · fieldboot · bootlicker · boot fair · fill someone's boots · Malay boot · pixie boot · bootee · cowgirl boot · Spanish boot · lift oneself up by one's own boot-tags · boot closer · boot-topping · Denver boot · army boot · boots and all · bootprint · engineering boot · desert boot · car boot · Jesus boot · bossyboots · couldn't pour water out of a boot · boot board · rubber boot · seaboot · bootikin · wobbly boots · hang up one's boots · knee high boot · boot manager · thigh boot · quake in one's boots · bootless · hiking boot · wellington boot · boot camp · Hessian boot · walking boot · unboot · hang up the boots · bootstrap · lift oneself up by one's boot-tags · motorcycle boot · aguaro boot · pubic boot · bootlike · a lie can run around the world before the truth can get its boots on · smarty boots · strap on the boots · bootblack · combat boot · bootheel · boot tree · work boot · bootmaker · rugby boot · snowboard boot · Russian boot · golden boot · ugg boot · bootlid · sly-boots · steel-toe boot · jungle boot · have one's heart in one's boots · sea-boot · rainboot · boot and rally · jump boot · aka wheel clamp · boot jack · bootwear · winter boot · football boot · bootstep · bootful · smarty-boots · bootscraper · stoga boot · boottopping · cold boot attack · snowboot · bovver boots · bootboy · jackboot · platform boot · too big for one's boots · boot cuts · bootlip · riding boot · hobnail boot · like old boots · monkey boot · bootstring · lick someone's boots · get the boot · overboot · safety boot · froot · ballet boot · ug boot · engineer boot · topboot · workboot · full as a boot · chewie on ya boot · rigger boot · napoleon boot · give someone the boot · Boot Hill · Wellington boots · boot knife · Eskimo boot · paratrooper boot · boothose · boothook · tabi boot · shoot the boots · give the boot · Napoleon boot · bootload · seven-league boots · the boot is on the other foot · seven-league boot · mud on one's boots · yeti boot · mukluk boot · boot-boy · in someone's boots · bootjack · dual-boot · boot-cut · boot pants · bootstripe · storm boot · moon boot · bootlick · gum boot · field boot · thigh-high boot · put the boot in · bootneck · kinky boot · boots on the ground · Chelsea boot · pac boot · bunny boot · boot upstairs · cowboy boot · boot catcher · hip boot · boot-grease · Oregon boot · tanker boot · boot sale · boot-tree · boot crimp · boot cut

Descendants

buz · बूट · бучь · बूट · buti · بوٗٹ · бутса

Synonyms

dicky (car storage) · heel (end of bread) · kick (blow with foot) · firing (sacked, dismissed) · layoff (sacked, dismissed) · butt (end of bread) · buskin (shoe) · mukluk (shoe) · butt · outsider (end of bread) · wheel clamp (parking enforcement device) · trunk (car storage) · ender (end of bread) · heel

Translations (163)

la cothurnus (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · nl laars (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ur بُوٹ (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ia botta (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · rm stivagl (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ga buatais (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · pt bota (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · la pero (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · cy esgid (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ka ჩექმა (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · mi pūtu (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ja ブート (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · hi बूट (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · tl bota (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · uk череви́к (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · mnc ᡤᡡᠯᡥᠠ (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · hy երկարաճիտ կոշիկ (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ny jombo (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · alt башмак (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · es funda (construction: flexible cover to protect a shaft, lever, switch etc.) · id bot (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · uk чо́біт (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · sv stövel (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · yue 靴 (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · bg уволнение (act or process of removing or firing someone) · ky жүктөө (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ja ブーツ (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fo stilvi (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · lv zābaks (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ckb چەکمە (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · grc κρηπίς (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ms kasut but (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · az çəkmə (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · et saabas (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ko 장화 (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · oc botèl (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · xsv skarne (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fi saapas (torture device) · nog этик (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · orv сапогъ (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · he מַגָּף (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · km ស្បែកជើងកវែង (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · yi שטיוול (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ka წაღა (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · nv ké deigo nineezí (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fi paisunut lippulehden tuppi (botany: inflated flag leaf sheath of a wheat plant) · hy ճտքակոշիկ (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · af stewel (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · nl huls (construction: flexible cover to protect a shaft, lever, switch etc.) · fa-ira بوت (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · orv плесница (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · mk чи́зма (torture device) · ht bòt (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · mt buzza (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · cs bota (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · kmr cezme (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fa-ira پوتین (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · uz etik (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · nl beschermhuls (construction: flexible cover to protect a shaft, lever, switch etc.) · arz بوت (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · sk čižma (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ro cizmă (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · hy սապոգ (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · uz botinka (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · da støvle (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · it scarpone (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · sw buti (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ru сапо́г (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ba итек (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fi luuska (unattractive person, ugly woman) · izh saapas (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ja 長靴 (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · scn stivala (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · kl kamik (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fi kenkä (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · gd bòtann (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · pt cobertura (construction: flexible cover to protect a shaft, lever, switch etc.) · vi giày ống (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · es bota (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · kw botas (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · wyi o'look (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · cy botas (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · lb Stiwwel (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · cv атӑ (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ar جَزْمَة (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · cmn 長靴 /长靴 (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · el μπότα (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · nrf botte (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · pl but (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · tk botinka (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ota چیزمه (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · be бот (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · kw botasen (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · vo but (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · tk ädik (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fi suojakumi (construction: flexible cover to protect a shaft, lever, switch etc.) · tg мӯза (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · nl hoge schoen (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · acw بوت (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · vi ủng (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · be боцік (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · la caliga (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · nn støvel (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · is stígvél (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ps موزه (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · sl škorenj (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · sh чи̏зма (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · pdt Steewel (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · nb støvel (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · de Stiefel (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · io boto (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · mn гутал (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · twf bútoną (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ar بسطار (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · xcl ներբանք (torture device) · apw kee hadago ndeezí (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · lt batas (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · tr çizme (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · hu csizma (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ga bróg (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · rm stivel (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · be чараві́к (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ru бу́тса (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · grc ἁρπίς (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · my ဘွတ်ဖိနပ် (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fr bottine (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · th รองเท้า (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · te బూటు (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · km ស្បែកជើង (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · sv känga (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · eo boto (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ast bota (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ru бу́тсы (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · bg бо́туш (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · alt ӧдӱк (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · kmr potîn (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fa-ira چَکْمِه (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ru боти́нок (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · an bota (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fa-ira چِزْمِه (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · br heuz (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · sv vagnslåda (archaic: place for baggage at either end of a stagecoach) · yai мӯза (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fo stivli (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ca bota (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fa-ira موزِه (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · hu bakancs (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · mk чизма (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ko 목화 (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · ru башма́к (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · sh čȉzma (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · rm stival (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · cmn 靴子 (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fi saapas (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · fr botte (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · it guaina (construction: flexible cover to protect a shaft, lever, switch etc.) · fi potkut (act or process of removing or firing someone) · it stivale (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · nl bot (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · hu spanyolcsizma (torture device) · tg ботинка (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · cy botasen (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg) · gl bota (heavy shoe that covers part of the leg)

wikidata: Q1142905 · wikidata: Q190868 · wikidata: Q190868

boot en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /buːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /bʉːt/ (Australia)
• /bʉt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• bo͞ot
• /bʉwt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /but/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English boote, bote (“shoe”), from Old French bote (“a high, thick shoe”). Of obscure origin, but probably related to Old French bot (“club-foot”), bot (“fat, short, blunt”), from Old Frankish *butt, from Proto-Germanic *buttaz, *butaz (“cut off, short, numb, blunt”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewt-, *bʰewd- (“to strike, push, shock”); if so, a doublet of butt. Compare Old Norse butt (“stump”), Low German butt (“blunt, plump”), Old English bytt (“small piece of land”), buttuc (“end”). More at buttock and debut.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To kick.
   • You nearly booted me in the face!
   • The one certainty is that the redrafting will delay by several months the general election that was supposed to be held at the end of this year. Mr Prayuth has implied that elections cannot now be held until after King Vajiralongkorn's coronation, which itself cannot take place until after his father's elaborate cremation, scheduled for October. All this boots the long-promised polls well into 2018. 2017 January 14, “Thailand's new king rejects the army's proposed constitution”, in The Economist:
   • I booted the ball toward my teammate.
2. To put boots on, especially for riding.
   • Coated and booted for it. 1641, Ben Jonson, Discoveries Made upon Men and Matter:
3. (Canada, US, colloquial, usually, with it) To step on the accelerator of a vehicle for faster acceleration than usual or to drive faster than usual.
   • The storm is coming fast! Boot it!
   • We had to boot it all the way there to get to our flight on time.
4. (informal) To eject; kick out.
   • The senator was booted from the committee for unethical behavior.
   • We need to boot those troublemakers as soon as possible.
5. (informal) To disconnect forcibly; to eject from an online service, conversation, etc.
   • As an IRC member with operator status, Swallow was able to manage who was allowed to remain in chat sessions and who got booted off the channel. 2002, Dan Verton, The Hacker Diaries, page 67:
   • In Electroserver, the kick command disconnects a user totally from the server and gives him a message about why he was booted. 2002, Jobe Makar, Macromedia Flash Mx Game Design Demystified, page 544:
   • Even flagrant violators of the TOS are not booted. 2003, John C. Dvorak, Chris Pirillo, Online!, page 173:
6. (slang) To vomit.
   • Sorry, I didn’t mean to boot all over your couch.
7. (Multicultural-London-English, slang) To shoot, to kill by gunfire.
   • C4 run man through the alley Get a man down with the swammy Get a man down with the whammy Boot couple niggas on the road No face no case with the bally (booting) 2015 November 1, “Dem Man Know”, C4 (814) (lyrics):

Forms

Deriveds

boot up the bum · booting · boot up the backside · boot out · boot one

Synonyms

kick (disconnect from online conversation) · hoof (kick) · kick (kick)

Translations (43)

fi yrjötä (to vomit) · sv sparka (to kick) · bg изхвърлям (to forcibly eject) · da smide ud (to forcibly eject) · nrf botter (to kick) · nl schoppen (to kick) · nl buitengooien (computing: to eject from an online service) · nl straffen (to apply corporal punishment) · cmn 踢 (to kick) · nl schieten (to kick) · fi suolata (criminal slang: to kill by gunfire) · fi potkaista (to kick) · fi heittää ulos (to forcibly eject) · ru пнуть (to kick) · el κλωτσώ (to kick) · ru пина́ть (to kick) · nl eruitgooien (computing: to eject from an online service) · nl eruitgooien (to forcibly eject) · nl trappen (to kick) · sv kräkas (to vomit) · nl afranselen (to apply corporal punishment) · sv spy (to vomit) · fi oksentaa (to vomit) · fi teloittaa (to apply corporal punishment) · nl buitengooien (to forcibly eject) · fr vomir (to vomit) · nl eruittrappen (computing: to eject from an online service) · ru вы́пнуть (to forcibly eject) · nl eruittrappen (to forcibly eject) · nl kotsen (to vomit) · fi vetää saappaat jalkaan (to put on boots) · da sparke (to kick) · fr botter (to kick) · fr déconnecter (computing: to eject from an online service) · nl braken (to vomit) · mk кло́ца (to kick) · fr expulser (to forcibly eject) · fi bannata (computing: to eject from an online service) · bg ритам (to kick) · sv sparka (to forcibly eject) · fi heittää ulos (computing: to eject from an online service) · io botizar (to put on boots) · ca vomitar (to vomit)

boot en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /buːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /bʉːt/ (Australia)
• /bʉt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• bo͞ot
• /bʉwt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /but/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English boote, bote, bot, from Old English bōt (“help, relief, advantage”), from Proto-West Germanic *bōtu, from Proto-Germanic *bōtō (“atonement, improvement”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰed- (“good”). Akin to Old Norse bót (“bettering, remedy”) (Danish bod), Gothic 𐌱𐍉𐍄𐌰 (bōta), German Buße. Doublet of bote (a borrowing from Middle English).

Meanings

1. (archaic, countable, dialectal, uncountable) Remedy, amends.
   • Thou art boot for many a bruise / And healest many a wound. 1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC:
   • next her Son, our soul's best boot 1820, William Wordsworth, The Prioress' Tale (from Chaucer):
2. (uncountable) Profit, plunder.
3. (countable, uncountable) That which is given to make an exchange equal, or to make up for the deficiency of value in one of the things exchanged; compensation; recompense.
   • I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one. c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]:
   • If mortgaged property is transferred, the amount of the mortgage is part of the boot. If both parties to the transaction transfer mortgages to each other, the party giving up the larger debt treats the excess as taxable boot. 2008, Jeffrey H. Rattiner, Financial Planning Answer Book 2009, pages 6–43:
   • If the target retains the boot and uses it for, say, paying its debt, there is taxation on the boot. 2021, Eli Amir, Marco Ghitti, Financial Analysis of Mergers and Acquisitions, page 117:
4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Profit; gain; advantage; use.
   • Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
5. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Repair work; the act of fixing structures or buildings.
6. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A medicinal cure or remedy.

Forms

Deriveds

bootless · to boot

Translations (9)

fi tuotto (profit) · sv vinning (remedy) · sv fördel (remedy) · sv gagn (remedy) · sv båtnad (remedy) · bg полза (profit) · sv hjälp (remedy) · sv vinst (remedy) · sv vinning (profit)

boot en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /buːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /bʉːt/ (Australia)
• /bʉt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• bo͞ot
• /bʉwt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /but/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English boote, bote, bot, from Old English bōt (“help, relief, advantage”), from Proto-West Germanic *bōtu, from Proto-Germanic *bōtō (“atonement, improvement”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰed- (“good”). Akin to Old Norse bót (“bettering, remedy”) (Danish bod), Gothic 𐌱𐍉𐍄𐌰 (bōta), German Buße. Doublet of bote (a borrowing from Middle English).

Meanings

1. (archaic, impersonal, intransitive, transitive) To be beneficial, to help.
   • It boots thee not to be compaſsionate, / After our ſentence, plaining comes too late. 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], page 26, column 2:
   • It bootes me not to threat, I must ſpeake faire, / The legate of the Pope will be obeyd: […] 1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act I]:
   • What could be wanting in my father but to have wrote a book to publiſh this notion of his to the world? Little boots it to the ſubtle ſpeculatiſt to ſtand ſingle in his opinions,—unleſs he gives them proper proper vent: […] 1759, [Laurence Sterne], chapter XIX, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, 2nd (1st London) edition, volume I, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley […], published 1760, →OCLC, pages 126–127:
   • 1678 Richard Hooker, “A Sermon found in the study of Bishop Andrews” in Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. Sanderson, late Bishop of Lincoln, London: Richard Marriot, p. 262, What booteth it to others that we wish them well, and do nothing for them?
   • Think you that we should quarrel with the French? / What boots to us your victories, your glory? / We pay, we fight, you profit at your ease. 1794, Robert Southey, Wat Tyler. A Dramatic Poem. In Three Acts, London: J[ohn] M‘Creery, […] for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, […], published 1817, →OCLC, Act II, page 44:
2. (archaic, impersonal, intransitive) To matter; to be relevant.
   • [W]hat subdued / To change like this, a mind so far imbued / With scorn of man, it little boots to know; [...] 1816, Lord Byron, “Canto III”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Canto the Third, London: […] [F]or John Murray, […], →OCLC, stanza LIV, page 30:
   • I will go and offer myſelf to this divorce—it boots not what becomes of me. 1764 December 24 (indicated as 1765), Onuphrio Muralto, translated by William Marshal [pseudonyms; Horace Walpole], chapter IV, in The Castle of Otranto, […], London: […] Tho[mas] Lownds […], →OCLC, page 151:
   • What boots whether it be Westminster or a little country spire which covers your ashes, or if, a few days sooner or later, the world forgets you? 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of Pendennis. […], volume I, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849, →OCLC, page 178:
3. (archaic, rare, transitive) To enrich.
   • And I will boot thee with what guift beſide / Thy modeſtie can begge. c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v], page 348, column 2:

Forms

Translations (5)

sv båta (to profit) · sv hjälpa (to profit) · sv tjäna (to profit) · bg ползвам (to profit) · sv gagna (to profit)

boot en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /buːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /bʉːt/ (Australia)
• /bʉt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• bo͞ot
• /bʉwt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /but/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Clipping of bootstrap.

Meanings

1. (archaic) The act or process of bootstrapping; the starting or re-starting of a computing device.
   • It took three boots, but I finally got the application installed.

Forms

Deriveds

bootblock (terms derived from boot (computing)) · preboot (terms derived from boot (computing)) · boot sector (terms derived from boot (computing)) · bootable (terms derived from boot (computing)) · bootload (terms derived from boot (computing)) · boot block (terms derived from boot (computing)) · warm boot (terms derived from boot (computing)) · bootkit (terms derived from boot (computing)) · boot loop (terms derived from boot (computing)) · netboot (terms derived from boot (computing)) · autoboot (terms derived from boot (computing)) · reboot (terms derived from boot (computing)) · boot loader (terms derived from boot (computing)) · bootsplash (terms derived from boot (computing)) · bootROM (terms derived from boot (computing)) · Bootnik (terms derived from boot (computing)) · bootsector (terms derived from boot (computing)) · cold boot (terms derived from boot (computing)) · booter (terms derived from boot (computing)) · bootup (terms derived from boot (computing)) · master boot record (terms derived from boot (computing)) · multiboot (terms derived from boot (computing)) · bootability (terms derived from boot (computing)) · hot boot (terms derived from boot (computing)) · bootloader (terms derived from boot (computing)) · bootflash (terms derived from boot (computing)) · dual boot (terms derived from boot (computing)) · boot time (terms derived from boot (computing)) · boot disk (terms derived from boot (computing)) · bootscan (terms derived from boot (computing))

Translations (18)

fr amorçage (the act or process of bootstrapping) · pl rozruch (the act or process of bootstrapping) · fi boottaus (the act or process of bootstrapping) · hu bootolás (the act or process of bootstrapping) · fi käynnistys (the act or process of bootstrapping) · de Booten (the act or process of bootstrapping) · pt inicialização (the act or process of bootstrapping) · fi uudelleenkäynnistys (the act or process of bootstrapping) · id but (the act or process of bootstrapping) · hu indítás (the act or process of bootstrapping) · eo startigo (the act or process of bootstrapping) · id inisialisasi (the act or process of bootstrapping) · fr boot (the act or process of bootstrapping) · eo praŝarĝo (the act or process of bootstrapping) · hu rendszerindítás (the act or process of bootstrapping) · it avvio (the act or process of bootstrapping) · ru загру́зка (the act or process of bootstrapping) · pt boot (the act or process of bootstrapping)

boot en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /buːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /bʉːt/ (Australia)
• /bʉt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• bo͞ot
• /bʉwt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /but/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Clipping of bootstrap.

Meanings

1. (archaic) To bootstrap; to start a system, e.g. a computer, by invoking its boot process or bootstrap.
   • When arriving at the office, the first thing I do is boot my machine.

Forms

Antonyms

turn off · shut down · stop

Deriveds

reboot

Synonyms

start · bootstrap · boot up

Translations (38)

fi käynnistää (to start a system) · ja 起動する (to start a system) · nl opstarten (to start a system) · de starten (to start a system) · hu bootol (to start a system) · fr démarrer (to start a system) · de laden (to start a system) · cmn 啟動 /启动 (to start a system) · pl wykonać rozruch (to start a system) · mi whakaara (to start a system) · shi awl i (Souss-Massa) (to start a system) · pl uruchomić (to start a system) · pt iniciar (to start a system) · is ræsa (to start a system) · it avviare (to start a system) · de hochfahren (to start a system) · ru загружа́ть (to start a system) · mi whakaoho (to start a system) · fi bootata (to start a system) · eo praŝarĝi (to start a system) · pt inicializar (to start a system) · de booten (to start a system) · vi khởi động (to start a system) · pt arrancar (to start a system) · fr amorcer (to start a system) · es arrancar (to start a system) · el εκκινώ (to start a system) · tr başlatma (to start a system) · hu elindít (to start a system) · hu indít (to start a system) · sv boota (to start a system) · ru загрузи́ть (to start a system) · it caricare (to start a system) · is inna ræsiforrit (to start a system) · et buutima (to start a system) · fr booter (to start a system) · cmn 起動 /起动 (to start a system) · et buutimine (to start a system)

boot en · NOUN · etymology 4

Pronunciation

• /buːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /bʉːt/ (Australia)
• /bʉt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• bo͞ot
• /bʉwt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /but/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From bootleg (“to make or sell illegally”), by shortening.

Meanings

1. (archaic, informal) A bootleg recording.
   • I am looking to trade Iron Maiden boots. I have many Iron Maiden bootlegs. I have lots of Metallica. I trade CDR's, tapes and videos. 1999, Tom Fletcher, “Looking for Iron Maiden boot traders”, in alt.music.bootlegs (Usenet):

Forms

Translations (3)

nl bootleg (bootleg recording) · fi piraattikopio (bootleg recording) · fr copie pirate (bootleg recording)