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

The patrons repaid the mob by buying cheap liquor at premium prices, along with bootleg cigarettes and sometimes drugs.

From The Daily Beast

Some of them, we had no idea they existed—like the first Bootleg Series that we put out a few years ago, The Personal File.

From The Daily Beast

But on the other side of the glass door, bootleg magic is being made.

From The Daily Beast

It also became a popular bootleg that was sold on street corners, reported MTV News.

From The Daily Beast

The “bootleg chemistry” results in a drug that is notoriously impure and often contains a lethal mix of toxins.

From The Daily Beast

Breakfast to-day consists of some kind of porridge, with the usual bootleg and punk.

From Project Gutenberg

At dawn he came down in a coast hamlet for bootleg petrol and oil.

From Project Gutenberg

Each of the chums carried a heavy rifle slung over his shoulder and under his arm, the muzzle pointing down his bootleg.

From Project Gutenberg

He stuck one willow wand into his bootleg for emergency, and then used the other to prod the maverick.

From Project Gutenberg

Having written he unlaced his boot on the right foot, folded the paper, and thrust it into the bootleg.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• contraband
• illicit
• pirated
• smuggled
• unauthorized