The Many Meanings of "Boot"

To most of us, the word "boot" means footwear. But have you ever stopped to consider how many applications of "boot" exist in the English language? Let's take a look at how boots are everywhere, literally.

Of course, the first and most common definition would be "footwear that covers the ankle and sometimes the shin or leg." Even within this traditional category, many definitions exist. Laborers wear work boots with steel toes. Soldiers wear combat boots. Cowboy boots, worn (obviously) by cowboys, at least originally, were designed with a higher heel that would grasp the stirrup, and a pointed toe that would more easily slide into a stirrup. Snow boots keep out the cold and the wet.

The world of fashion has dozens of definitions for the boot, especially for women. These boots may have block, square shaped heels, like the go-go boots of the sixties (famously idolized in the song "These Boots Were Made for Walking" by Nancy Sinatra), or slender, sharp heels, ranging from the very low (often called kitten heels) to the extremely high, such as six inch "stiletto" heels. On top of that, boots may be "platforms", which incorporate thick, tall soles and heels, designed to increase the wearer's height. Platforms have been around since Ancient Greece, when actors wore them to increase the height and stature of their characters. At the farthest extreme are the ballet boots, which can have a heel in excess of seven inches in length, and which are designed such that the wearer literally stands on their toes, like a ballerina. Ballet boots have existed for over a hundred years, with an extreme, 11 inch heel example dating back to Vienna just before the end of the 19th century. Ballet heels have recently become even more popular, after appearing in the wardrobes of celebrities such as Beyonce and Christina Aguilera.

However, this only begins to describe the use of the boot! Footwear is only one aspect of this word; there are far more meanings of 'boot' than you might expect!

- In British English, for example, the "boot" is the cargo space of a car, called the "trunk" in U.S. English.

- One can be "booted" from a place, indicating that one has been thrown out or kicked (sometimes literally) out.

- Turning a computer on is often called "booting" the computer. Turning it off and on again is "rebooting."

- "Booting" a car means to place a restraining device on one of the wheels, preventing it from being driven.

- "Bootlegging" means to smuggle illegal materials. The original name came from the practice of hiding flasks of illegal booze inside one's boots!

- "Bootes" is a constellation of stars, which can be interpreted to resemble a boot.

- "He's booting" is used as a slang term to say someone is throwing up.

- "Boot" means "boat" in Dutch and German.

- "Boot camp" is a common name for basic training of new military recruits.

- Saying that someone "died with their boots on" means the person died a violent death, instead of dying in bed. This usage was popularized in the American "Wild West", where some cemeteries are named "Boot Hill" for this reason.

- BOOT is a financial acronym that stands for Build, Operate, Own, Transfer.

As you can see, from a language and usage perspective, the word "boot" is a very busy word, indeed!

Sources:

"Simple English" Wikipedia. Link
Roget's Thesaurus, 2002 Librarian's Edition
"Booted Up" Weblog. Link
The Real Wild West: The 101 Ranch and the Creation of the American West by Michael Wallis