boot1
• noun 1 a sturdy item of footwear covering the foot and ankle, and sometimes the lower leg. 2 informal a hard kick. 3 Brit. a space at the back of a car for carrying luggage. • verb 1 kick hard. 2 (boot out) informal force to leave. 3 start (a computer) and put it into a state of readiness for operation. from BOOTSTRAP. — PHRASES the boot is on the other foot the situation is now reversed. give (or get) the boot informal dismiss (or be dismissed) from a job. old boot informal an ugly or disliked old woman. put the boot in Brit. informal kick or attack someone when they are already on the ground. with one’s heart in one’s boots very depressed or anxious. — DERIVATIVES bootable adjective booted adjective. — ORIGIN Old Norse, or Old French bote.
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