boot

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A strong shoe that covers the foot and part of the leg.

   She pulled on her heavy boots before going out in the snow.

2. 2
   noun

   The covered storage space at the back of a car.

   He put the suitcases in the boot of the car.

3. 3
   verb

   To start a computer and load its operating system.

   It takes a minute for the old laptop to boot up.

4. 4
   verb

   To kick something hard.

   He booted the ball across the field.

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.

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