boot

¹ American  

[boot] / but /

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. Slang. the boot, 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.

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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 byup ).

      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 byup ).

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 byup ).

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

idioms

1. 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.

2. die with one's boots on, Also 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.

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

   You can bet your boots I'll be there!

4. get a boot, to derive keen enjoyment.

   I really got a boot out of his ridiculous stories.

boot ² American  

[boot] / but /

noun

1. Archaic. something given into the bargain.

2. Obsolete.

   1. advantage.

   2. remedy; relief; help.

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verb (used with or without object)

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

   It boots thee not to complain.

idioms

1. to boot, in addition; besides.

   We received an extra week's pay to boot.

boot ³ American  

[boot] / but /

noun

Archaic.

1. booty; spoil; plunder.

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boot ¹ British  

/ 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. US and Canadian name: trunk.  an enclosed compartment of a car for holding luggage, etc, usually at the rear

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. to be certain

    you can bet your boots he'll come

12. See boots and all

13. 1. to die while still active

    2. to die in battle

14. to be servile, obsequious, or flattering towards

15. 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. slang dismissal from employment; the sack

17. the situation is or has now reversed

18. self-important or conceited

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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. Also: boot up.  to start up the operating system of (a computer) or (of a computer) to begin operating

boot ² British  

/ buːt /

verb

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

   what boots it to complain?

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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. as well; in addition

   it's cold and musty, and damp to boot

boot More Idioms  

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
• shoe
• to boot
• too big for one's breeches (boots)
• you can bet your ass (boots)

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Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Easily one of 2025’s best albums, “Whiskey Lies & Alibis” by William Beckmann, released in June, harkens back to the finest country music of the 1990s while keeping a boot planted firmly in the present.

From Salon

Deckers Outdoor is best known as the maker of Ugg boots, even though sales there are likely to be overtaken in the coming year by the company’s Hoka brand of pillowy running shoes.

From Barron's

Deckers Outdoor is best known as the maker of Ugg boots, even though sales there are likely to be overtaken in the coming year by the company’s Hoka brand of pillowy running shoes.

From Barron's

Perrin of the groundwater-conservation district said he thinks the Railroad Commission doesn’t have enough boots on the ground to handle the situation.

From The Wall Street Journal

He usually wears a light blue shirt, jeans, and dusty boots.

From Barron's

Related Words

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