boot1
n.
- a sturdy item of footwear covering the foot and ankle, and sometimes the lower leg.
- informal a hard kick.
- Brit. a space at the back of a car for carrying luggage.
- historical an instrument of torture for crushing the foot.
v.
- kick hard.
-
(boot someone out)
informal force someone to leave unceremoniously.
- start (a computer) and put it into a state of readiness for operation.
[from bootstrap.]
Phrase
- the boot
(or N. Amer. shoe)
is on the other foot
the situation has reversed. - die with one's boots on
die in battle or while actively occupied. - give
(or get)
the boot
informal dismiss (or be dismissed) from a job. - old boot
informal an ugly or disliked old woman. - put the boot in
Brit. informal kick or attack someone when they are already on the ground.
Derivative
- bootable adj.
- booted adj.
Etymology
ME: from ON bóti or its source, OFr. bote.
boot2
n.
(
in phr. to boot)
as well.
Etymology
OE bōt ‘advantage, remedy’, of Gmc origin.