boot
/but/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.19 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A flexible cover of rubber or plastic, which may be preformed to a particular shape and used to protect a shaft, lever, switch, or opening from dust, dirt, moisture, etc.
noun
Oppression, an oppressor.
noun
A parking enforcement device used to immobilize a car until it can be towed or a fine is paid; a wheel clamp.
American usage
noun
A rubber bladder on the leading edge of an aircraft’s wing, which is inflated periodically to remove ice buildup; a deicing boot.
Example Sentences
- "Dr. Jayakar was not only one of them but was at places the prime mover in the historic decisions taken by a nation struggling to get free of the British boot."
- "Never in its long history, and one rich with brutal inequities too, had Paris known the disgrace of seeing one section of its community prosper under the boot of an invader"
- "Chronic unrest in Ireland, long under the British boot, was about to culminate in a popular rising."
- "The boot, thumbscrews, the shackles, and a contraption called the "warm hose", were only a few of the inflictions being too terrible to mention."
- "[T]he young man helped the young lady, half-swooning, inside, and Egbert, Murial Jane and Silvander Dan climbed on to the boot which was a handsome high-seat at the back."
- "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."
Etymology
From Middle English boote, bote (“shoe”), from Old French bote (“a high, thick shoe”). Of obscure origin, but probably related to Old French bot (“club-foot”), bot (“fat, short, blunt”), from Old Frankish *butt, from Proto-Germanic *buttaz, *butaz (“cut off, short, numb, blunt”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewt-, *bʰewd- (“to strike, push, shock”); if so, a doublet of butt. Compare Old Norse butt (“stump”), Low German butt (“blunt, plump”), Old English bytt (“small piece of land”), buttuc (“end”). More at buttock and debut.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /but/
- British English: /buːt/
Usage
- Uncountable
- American usage
- Obsolete
- Archaic
- Australian usage
- New Zealand usage
- British usage
- Informal
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
aguaro boot
a lie can run around the world before the truth can get its boots on
ankle boot
army boot
Australian boot
ballet boot
Beatle boot
boot and rally