boot

[ boot ]

/ but /

noun

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

Chiefly British. any shoe or outer foot covering reaching to the ankle.

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

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.

any sheathlike protective covering: a boot for a weak automobile tire.

a protective covering for the foot and part of the leg of a horse.

a protecting cover or apron for the driver's seat of an open vehicle.

the receptacle or place into which the top of a convertible car fits when lowered.

a cloth covering for this receptacle or place.

British. the trunk of an automobile.

a rubber covering for the connection between each spark-plug terminal and ignition cable in an automotive ignition system.

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.

U.S. Navy, Marines. a recruit.

Music. the box that holds the reed in the reed pipe of an organ.

a kick.

Slang. a dismissal; discharge: They gave him the boot for coming in late.

Informal. a sensation of pleasure or amusement: Watching that young skater win a gold medal gave me a real boot.

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

Computers. an act or instance of starting up a computer or program.

verb (used with object)

to kick; drive by kicking: The boy booted a tin can down the street.

Football. to kick.

Baseball. to fumble (a ground ball).

to put boots on; equip or provide with boots.

Computers.

to start (a computer) by loading and initializing the operating system (often followed by up).
to start (a program) by loading the first few instructions, which will then bring in the rest (often followed by up).

Slang. to dismiss; discharge: They booted him out of school for not studying.

to attach a Denver boot to: Police will boot any car with unpaid fines.

to torture with the boot.

verb (used without object)

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.

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Question 1 of 7

What does “blatherskite” mean?

a person given to voluble, empty talk.

an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.

a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.

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Idioms for boot

bet your boots, to be sure or certain: You can bet your boots that I'll be there!

die with one's boots on,

to die while actively engaged in one's work, profession, etc.
to die fighting, especially in battle, or in some worthy cause.

Also especially British, die in one's boots.

get a boot, Informal. to derive keen enjoyment: I really got a boot out of his ridiculous stories.

Origin of boot

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

Words nearby boot

boosterish, boosterism, booster seat, boost phase, boost-start, boot, bootblack, boot boy, boot camp, boot-cut, booted

Definition for boot (2 of 3)

boot²

[ boot ]

/ but /

noun

Archaic. something given into the bargain.

Obsolete.

advantage.
remedy; relief; help.

verb (used with or without object)

Archaic. to be of profit, advantage, or avail (to): It boots thee not to complain.

Origin of boot

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bote, Old English bōt “advantage”; cognate with Dutch boete, German Busse, Old Norse bōt, Gothic bota;see bet¹, better¹

Definition for boot (3 of 3)

boot³

[ boot ]

/ but /

noun Archaic.

booty; spoil; plunder.

Origin of boot

First recorded in 1585–95; special use of boot² by association with booty¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for boot

Good thing your paracord laces do more than just hold your boots on your feet.
This essential survival tool can save your life 10 different ways|By Tim MacWelch/Outdoor Life|September 15, 2020|Popular Science
Practical and tasteful, with a simple embossed logo that lends it a graphic personality to boot, the affordable vegan-leather bags have become a widely sought status symbol.
Telfar’s move to make its sought-after bag available to everyone was smart business|Marc Bain|August 21, 2020|Quartz
I took that trip, I put hiking boots on for the first time, and I saw my first wild animal.
3-D Printed Statues in Central Park Shine a Light on Women Scientists - Facts So Romantic|Mary Ellen Hannibal|August 18, 2020|Nautilus
That’s not as big as what you’d get on most hiking boots, but they provide enough traction to keep you stable on your feet.
Why I Love Chaco's Lowdown Flip-Flops|Jakob Schiller|July 9, 2020|Outside Online

Embedding posts with visuals such as videos, infographics, and photos might mean additional advantages to boot.
SEO on a shoestring budget: What small business owners can do to win|Ali Faagba|June 4, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Season three was the strongest one the series has produced yet, to boot.
15 Enraging Golden Globe TV Snubs and Surprises: Amy Poehler, 'Mad Men' & More|Kevin Fallon|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The rule is that every time a new writer enters the canon an old one has to get the boot.
The Veteran Who Took Home the National Book Award|Jacob Siegel|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He became as polarizing a figure as the war itself, court jester to Nixon and corporate shill to boot.
When Your Comic Hero Is an Alleged Rapist|Doug McIntyre|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And he was less than a month from his third decade, to boot.
Why Does Oscar Hate Young Men?|Kevin Fallon|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Acts of violence include death by hanging, rifle butt, boot heel, tank tracks and fireball.
‘Fury’: A Ludicrous WWII Movie More Violent Than ‘Inglourious Basterds’|Nico Hines|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If I'm to keep dry on this concern, it strikes me I'd better get inside the boot at once!
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 109, October 12, 1895|Various
"Hillary is inclined to talk—" began Lucas, but was silenced by a ferocious stamp of Frank's boot.
The Prodigal Father|J. Storer Clouston
"The air is better than the mud," returned Hilda, holding up a boot, which had gathered part of the roadway to itself.
Young Hilda at the Wars|Arthur Gleason
It is the custom on the coast to give all meals to travellers free, both men and dogs, and lodging to boot.
A Labrador Doctor|Wilfred Thomason Grenfell
We let Albert-next-door be sub-editor, because he had hurt his foot with a nail in his boot that gathered.
The Story of the Treasure Seekers|E. Nesbit

British Dictionary definitions for boot (1 of 2)

boot¹

/ (buːt) /

noun

a strong outer covering for the foot; shoe that extends above the ankle, often to the kneeSee also chukka boot, top boot, Wellington boots, surgical boot

an enclosed compartment of a car for holding luggage, etc, usually at the rearUS and Canadian name: trunk

a protective covering over a mechanical device, such as a rubber sheath protecting a coupling joining two shafts

US and Canadian a rubber patch used to repair a puncture in a tyre

an instrument of torture used to crush the foot and lower leg

a protective covering for the lower leg of a horse

a kickhe gave the door a boot

British slang an ugly person (esp in the phrase old boot)

US slang a navy or marine recruit, esp one in training

computing short for bootstrap (def. 4a)

bet one's boots to be certainyou can bet your boots he'll come

See boots and all

die with one's boots on

to die while still active
to die in battle

lick the boots of to be servile, obsequious, or flattering towards

put the boot in slang

to kick a person, esp when he or she is already down
to harass someone or aggravate a problem
to finish off (something) with unnecessary brutality

the boot slang dismissal from employment; the sack

the boot is on the other foot or the boot is on the other leg the situation is or has now reversed

too big for one's boots self-important or conceited

verb

(tr) (esp in football) to kick

(tr) to equip with boots

(tr) informal

(often foll by out) to eject forcibly
to dismiss from employment

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

Word Origin for boot

C14 bote, from Old French, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for boot (2 of 2)

boot²

/ (buːt) /

verb (usually impersonal)

archaic to be of advantage or use to (a person)what boots it to complain?

noun

obsolete an advantage

dialect something given in addition, esp to equalize an exchangea ten pound boot to settle the bargain

to boot as well; in additionit's cold and musty, and damp to boot

Word Origin for boot

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with boot

boot

In addition to the idioms beginning with boot

boot out
boot up

also see:

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)

Also see undershoe.

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boot