[boot] n [ME, fr. OE bot remedy; akin to OE betera better] (bef. 12c) 1 archaic: deliverance
2. chiefly dial: something to equalize a trade 3 obs: avail -- to boot : besides
[2]boot vb (15c) archaic: avail, profit [3]boot n [ME, fr. MF bote] (14c) 1: a fitted covering (as of leather or rubber) for the foot and usu. reaching above the ankle
2: an instrument of torture used to crush the leg and foot
3: something that resembles or is likened to a boot; esp: an enclosing or protective casing or sheath (as for a rifle or over an electrical or mechanical connection)
4: a navy or marine corps recruit undergoing basic training
5. Brit: an automobile trunk
6. a: a kick with the foot b: summary dismissal--used with the c: momentary pleasure or enjoyment: bang "got a big ~ out of the joke" 7: a sheath enclosing the inflorescence [4]boot vt (15c) 1: to put boots on
2. a: kick b: to eject or discharge summarily--often used with out "was ~ed out of office"
3: to make an error on (a grounder in baseball); broadly: botch
4: to ride (a horse) in a race "~ed home three winners"
5. [
[2]bootstrap] a: to load (a program) into a computer from a disk b: to start or ready for use esp. by booting a program "~ a microcomputer"--often used with up ~ vi: to become loaded into a computer's memory from a disk "the program ~s automatically" -- boot.able adj [5]boot n [[1]boot] (1593) archaic: booty, plunder