n. & v.
—n.
1 an outer covering for the foot, esp. of leather, reaching above the ankle, often to the knee.
2 Brit. the luggage compartment of a motor car, usu. at the rear.
3 colloq. a firm kick.
4 (prec. by the) colloq. dismissal, esp. from employment (gave them the boot).
5 a covering to protect the lower part of a horse's leg.
6 hist. an instrument of torture encasing and crushing the foot.
—v.tr.
1 kick, esp. hard.
2 (often foll. by out) dismiss (a person) forcefully.
3 (usu. foll. by up) put (a computer) in a state of readiness (cf. BOOTSTRAP 2).
Phrases and idioms:
the boot is on the other foot (or leg) the truth or responsibility is the other way round. die with one's boots on (of a soldier etc.) die fighting. put the boot in
1 kick brutally.
2 act decisively against a person. you bet your boots sl. it is quite certain.
Derivatives:
booted adj.
Etymology: ME f. ON boacuteti or f. OF bote, of unkn. orig.
2.
n.
Phrases and idioms:
to boot as well; to the good; in addition.
Etymology: orig. = 'advantage': OE bot f. Gmc
Useful english dictionary. 2012.