Definition of "boot"

The boot, thumbscrews, the shackles, and a contraption called the "warm hose", were only a few of the inflictions being too terrible to mention.

1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 221

He heaved the bag and its contents over the lip of the boot and on to the flagstones. When it was out, no longer in that boot but on the ground, and the bag was still intact, he knew the worst was over.

1998, Ruth Rendell, A Sight For Sore Eyes, published 2010, page 260

The body is constructed of welded steel panels, with the bonnet, doors and boot lid in aluminium on steel frames.

2003, Keith Bluemel, Original Ferrari V-12 1965-1973: The Restorer's Guide, unnumbered page

Peers leant against the outside of the car a lit up her filter tip and watched as Bauer and Putin placed their compact suitcases in the boot of the BMW and slammed the boot lid down.

2008, MB Chattelle, Richmond, London: The Peter Hacket Chronicles, page 104

My Dad has taught me that in England some foolish man may call me sambo, darkie, boot or munt or nigger, even.

1964 , Colin MacInnes, City of Spades, London: Penguin Books, page 22

Because of overcrowding, many a CB enthusiast (called an "apple") is strapping an illegal linear amplifier ("boots") on to his transceiver ("ears") […]

1977, New Scientist, volume 74, page 764

The one certainty is that the redrafting will delay by several months the general election that was supposed to be held at the end of this year. Mr Prayuth has implied that elections cannot now be held until after King Vajiralongkorn's coronation, which itself cannot take place until after his father's elaborate cremation, scheduled for October. All this boots the long-promised polls well into 2018.

2017 January 14, “Thailand's new king rejects the army's proposed constitution”, in The Economist‎

Coated and booted for it.

1641, Ben Jonson, Discoveries Made upon Men and Matter‎

As an IRC member with operator status, Swallow was able to manage who was allowed to remain in chat sessions and who got booted off the channel.

2002, Dan Verton, The Hacker Diaries, page 67

Even flagrant violators of the TOS are not booted.

2003, John C. Dvorak, Chris Pirillo, Online!, page 173

In Electroserver, the kick command disconnects a user totally from the server and gives him a message about why he was booted.

2002, Jobe Makar, Macromedia Flash Mx Game Design Demystified, page 544

C4 run man through the alleyGet a man down with the swammyGet a man down with the whammyBoot couple niggas on the roadNo face no case with the bally (booting)

2015 November 1, “Dem Man Know”, C4 (814) (lyrics)

Thou art boot for many a bruise / And healest many a wound.

1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], Waverley; […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown

next her Son, our soul's best boot

1820, William Wordsworth, The Prioress' Tale (from Chaucer)

I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one.

c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene v]

If mortgaged property is transferred, the amount of the mortgage is part of the boot. If both parties to the transaction transfer mortgages to each other, the party giving up the larger debt treats the excess as taxable boot.

2008, Jeffrey H. Rattiner, Financial Planning Answer Book 2009, pages 6–43

If the target retains the boot and uses it for, say, paying its debt, there is taxation on the boot.

2021, Eli Amir, Marco Ghitti, Financial Analysis of Mergers and Acquisitions, page 117

Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot.

1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene iv]

It boots thee not to be compaſsionate, / After our ſentence, plaining comes too late.

1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iii], page 26, column 2

It bootes me not to threat, I must ſpeake faire, / The legate of the Pope will be obeyd: […]

1594 (first publication), Christopher Marlow[e], The Trovblesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edvvard the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, [Act I]

What booteth it to others that we wish them well, and do nothing for them?

1678 Richard Hooker, “A Sermon found in the study of Bishop Andrews” in Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. Sanderson, late Bishop of Lincoln, London: Richard Marriot, p. 262

What could be wanting in my father but to have wrote a book to publiſh this notion of his to the world? Little boots it to the ſubtle ſpeculatiſt to ſtand ſingle in his opinions,—unleſs he gives them proper proper vent: […]

1759, [Laurence Sterne], chapter XIX, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, 2nd (1st London) edition, volume I, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley […], published 1760, pages 126–127

Think you that we should quarrel with the French? / What boots to us your victories, your glory? / We pay, we fight, you profit at your ease.

1794, Robert Southey, Wat Tyler. A Dramatic Poem. In Three Acts, London: […] [J. M‘Creery] for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, […], published 1817, Act II, page 44

I will go and offer myſelf to this divorce—it boots not what becomes of me.

1764, “Onuphrio Muralto”, translated by William Marshal [pseudonym; Horace Walpole], The Castle of Otranto, […], Dublin: […] J. Hoey, […], published 1765, page 111

[W]hat subdued / To change like this, a mind so far imbued / With scorn of man, it little boots to know; [...]

1816, Lord Byron, “Canto III”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Canto the Third, London: Printed for John Murray, […], stanza LIV, page 30

What boots whether it be Westminster or a little country spire which covers your ashes, or if, a few days sooner or later, the world forgets you?

1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of Pendennis. […], volume I, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849, page 178

And I will boot thee with what guift beſide / Thy modeſtie can begge.

c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene v], page 348, column 2

I am looking to trade Iron Maiden boots. I have many Iron Maiden bootlegs. I have lots of Metallica. I trade CDR's, tapes and videos.

1999, Tom Fletcher, “Looking for Iron Maiden boot traders”, in alt.music.bootlegs (Usenet)