Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) a derog. ref. to a black person.

1992		G.P. Pelecanos Firing Offense 75: ‘As for the blacks, we send them a message every so often to remind them that we live here too. Fuckin’ bootheads act like they own this town’.
1998		(con. 1986) G. Pelecanos Sweet Forever 252: You could bury a few bootheads real easy with twenty-five rounds.

(US) a black person.

1983		I.L. Allen Lang. of Ethnic Conflict 47: afro-americans Allusions to Other Physical Differences: bootlips.
1992		Bentley & Corbett Prison Sl. 55: Boot Lip A black person.

(US black) to put on a condom.

1994

G. Smitherman Black Talk.

(Aus.) an excl. of dismissal, rejection.

1967		‘Whisper All Aussie Dict.’ in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxv 6/2: inya boot: An expression used instead of ‘I do not concur with you.’.
1972		Bulletin (Sydney) 94:3 70: [It] leads not to knowledge, but to the ‘in yer boot’ syndrome, and complete social paralysis.
1984		Orange Coast Mag. Sept. 133/3: In Yer Boot: expression of disagreement.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl.

see stuff me! under stuff v.¹

1. a skinhead.

1976		P. Theroux Family Arsenal 194: We had these mates. We called ourselves ‘the Penge boys’ – boot-boys, like.
1983		K. Hudson Dict. of the Teenage Revolution 24: Bootboy. A member of an aggressive, usually skinhead street gang.
1999		N. Cohn Yes We Have No 96: We squat on the curb, surrounded by boot boys.
2001		D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 27/2: boot boy n. 1 a skinhead or a white supremacist gang-member.
2004		(con. 1980) N. ‘Razor’ Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 238: I recognized some of them as the boot-boys from the front bar.
2004		(con. 1960s-70s) T. Taylor Top Fellas 54/2: Skinhead was [...] first replaced by the suedehead, then the smooth/bootboy.
2021		T. Pluck Boy from County Hell 309: [T]he HB boot boys talked among themselves.
2023		A. Parks To Die in June 1249: ‘His boot-boy pals aren’t too fond of the likes of me’.

2. (N.Z. prison, also boot girl) a follower of the punk or heavy metal scenes, a bogan n. (1)

2001

D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 27/2: 3 boot boy 3 (also boot girl a bogan, or a person closely involved with the punk or heavy metal scene.

the servant whose task it is to help guests off with and to clean their boots on arrival at an inn.

1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.

a juror who would rather ‘eat their boots’ than find anyone guilty.

1826		Waterford Mail 2 Aug. 4/4: The one boot-eater who pertinaceously held out, is praised in proportion to the abuse heaped upon his fellows.
1833		Freeman’s Jrnl (Dublin) 10 Dec. 3/2: He was unrivalled as a Protestant juror, and could always be relied on as a ‘boot-eater’ in the cause.
1842		London Eve. Standard 27 July 2/6: The boot-eater’s power of endurance was not equal to the trial it was likely to undergo and he submited to the honest verdict of his brother jurors.
1852		Dublin Eve. Mail 16 Feb. 2/5: A good boot-eater, who impedes the course of justice, has his reward.
1859		G.A. Sala Twice Round the Clock 89: An Irish gentleman whose presence on the panel was considered invaluable at state trials, he having the reputation of an indomitable ‘boot-eater.’.
1867		Saunders News-Letter (Dublin) 30 Sept. 3/2: It is not improbable that there may sometimes creep into the jury-box what is known as a ‘boot-eater’ [...] There ought always to be allowance made for at least one ‘boot-eater’ or crotchetty person in every jury.
1870		Pall Mall Gaz. 17 Mar. 3/3: The celebrated species of jury-man known as the boot-eater [...] One boot-eater , feeling [...] that his religion and love of country depended on his holding out [...] could baffle the most elaborate attempt to bring a criminal to punishment.
1880		Pall Mall Gaz. 30 Dec. 11/1: Rumour says there are at least nine boot-eaters in the Parnell jury.
1914		Yorks. Eve. Post 14 Jan. 4/3: The verdict of ‘Not Guilty’ rendered by an eleven of the vaunted Palladium starved into acquiescence by one determined boot-eater.

gloomy, miserable-looking.

1917		Dly Mirror 30 Aug. 10/3: I rather like the epithet, ‘a boot-faced gloom,’ with which to wither your dearest foe.
1950		Western Morn. News 14 Nov. 5/3: A lot of pressure is brought to bear with that motive, and it is pressure we are quite boot-faced about.
1999		N. Cohn Yes We Have No 304: Another boot-faced zombie.
2000		Guardian G2 1 Mar. 16: The usherette was boot-faced.
2011		Sun. Times 6 Feb. 11/3: The PC lobby [...] wants the commission to be a strident, boot-faced, politically correct thought police.

see heeltap n. (1)

see separate entry.

see separate entries.

a sycophant, a toady.

1966

in DARE.

see separate entries.

see separate entries.

(orig. US) to improve one’s lot in life by one’s own efforts; thus bootstrapper n., bootstrapping adj.

1932		Press & Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, NY) 25 July 6/1: All the effort expended in such boot-strappings and such raindow chasings [etc].
1933		Dly American (Somerset, PA) 20 July 4/2: The cotton textile industry, whose bootstraping code went into effect Monday.
1940		Edmonton Jrnl (Alberta) 20 July 11/6: It sounded to him like ‘boot-strapping de luxe’.
1951		Time 27 Aug. 91: For its bootstrapping job, the [petroleum] industry is earning its merited reward [HDAS].
1968		Business Week 2 Nov. 103: Sullivan’s idea of Negroes bootstrapping themselves has solidified his business support [HDAS].
1974		Everett (WA) Herald 27 Sept. 5b: The tribe has been ‘bootstrapping’ itself for the past 40 years as it struggled to develop the land of the reservation [HDAS].
1983		Beckwith & Knox Delta Force 90: The Army gave me the year to bootstrap. I found I loved school and I graduated with a 3.5 grade average.
1997		Amer. Politics Journal 30 Dec. n.p.: Could this be Newt’s plan to bootstrap himself into the Senate?
2000		J. Entine Taboo 281: Although any one athlete may bootstrap himself to stardom, the pattern of athletic success is circumscribed by the biology of human evolution.

see everlasting shoes under shoe n.

Aus. a term of (affectionate) address.

2019

P. Temple ‘High Art’ in The Red Hand 17: ‘Steady on, old boot [...] You may have gone troppo’.

(US black) a general query as to the state of affairs; is everything in order? are you ready? do you understand?

1947		M.H. Boulware Jive and Sl.
1994		C. Major Juba to Jive 10: Are [one’s] boots laced (1930s–1940s) inquiry as to whether or not things are in their proper order, or, more vaguely, [...] as to whether or not one understands whatever is in question.

(US drugs) the lowest class of narcotics user.

1936		D. Maurer ‘Argot of the Und. Narcotic Addict’ Pt 1 in AS XI:2 119/1: boots-and-shoes. A down-and-out addict who has literally sold or pawned all his clothes to buy dope. All underworld addicts eventually ‘go boots-and-shoes.’.
1937		B. Dai Opium Addiction in Chicago.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).
1959		Murtagh & Harris Who Live In Shadow (1960) 17: He is what is known around Junktown as a birdcage hype, a flophouse type, a boot-and-shoer.

see snatch-and-grab booster under booster n.²

(US) to urge, to force.

1929

D. Runyon in Breslin Damon Runyon (1992) 220: Never a handy / Guy like Sande / Bootin’ them babies in.

(Aus./N.Z.) absolutely, completely, with no reservations.

1850		Maitland Mercury (NSW) 6 Apr. 2/5: It became celebrated lately for the famous parish of Hastings [...] when many an expectant, cocksure of jumping into a fortune, boots and all, was bamboozled out of cash certain for prizes improbable.
1851		‘How Sally Hooter Got Snake-Bit’ in T.A. Burke Polly Peablossom’s Wedding 72: He was [...] er slobberin’ at the mouth, an’ er cuttin up shines worse nor er bob-tail bull in fly time! I tell you what, ef he didn’t go it boots that time, I don’t know!
1872		Brisbane Courier 5 Feb. 3/3: If he passes the Rubicon safely, and makes a fair profit on his crop, we all mean to gird up our loins, and rush head first, head and tail, boots and all, into sugar.
1888		W.B. Churchward Blackbirding In The South Pacific 134: I mean to live, if I have to eat you, boots and all. Understand?
1934		Courier Mail (Brisbane) 5 Mar. 11/3: ‘Boots and all’ means on your toes, and applies to the whole team.
1943		Canbera Times 7 June 2/4: Mr. Taylor said there was only one way to fight an influence such as Mr. Lang had no the Labour Party, and that was ‘boots and all.’ .
1947		D. Davin For Rest of our Lives 96: The next thing he’ll do is counter-attack, boots and all.
1951		D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 86: It’d have been boots and all then for Jimmy Brockett.
1972		G.W. Turner Eng. Lang. in Aus. and N.Z. 107: The list of items valid in both countries is a long one and would include [...] boots and all ‘without reservation’ (especially in the phrase ‘be in boots and all’).
1986		C. Bowles G’DAY 113: He jumped in, boots an’ all, and Davo racked off with the capital.
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 18/2: boots and all no holds barred, complete or enthusiastic commitment.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].

see under die v.

see from hell to breakfast under hell n.

(US black) to come up to date.

1944

D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 18: Those who ain’t hipped better get their boots on.

to accelerate.

2002

Mario posting 12 Aug. at MRTRally.com.au 🌐 It’s hardly a ‘quiet’ BOV when he gave it the boot as I could hear the thing sitting behind him in traffic.

to dismiss, to eject, to ‘kick out’.

1870

Sportsman (London) 9 July 4/1: Give him boots! There is great virtue in leather, and especially the sole of a boot when properly applied to skunking fellows who bring disrepute on an honourable profession.

see under hang up one’s... v.

(US black) to be wise, sophisticated, intelligent.

1936		‘Hectic Harlem’ in N.Y. Amsterdam News 8 Feb. sect. 2: GOT YOUR BOOTS LACED. – To inquire whether or not a person completely understands, or is prepared.
1937		Duckett & Staples ‘Double Feature’ in N.Y. Age 27 Feb. 7/1: You really should lace up your Boots and get hep to yourself.
1938		‘Sl. among Nebraska Negroes’ in AS XIII:4 Dec. 317/1: Hip me to the jive! and lace my boots! mean ‘put me wise!’ Thus to be hipped or to have one’s boots laced is to be aware of a situation.
1939		Herbert & Spencer Jitterbug Jamboree Song Book 32: got your boots on: know what it’s all about.
1944		Cab Calloway New Hepsters Dict. in Calloway (1976) 256: got your boots on: you know what it is all about, you are a hep cat, you are wise.
1944		‘Jiver’s Bible’ in D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive.
1953		L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 6: A fine frame moves on in most frantic with her boots laced laying much tracks. It’s that lil old ice cream cone D, and You can believe the cats scream murder when she goes into her canary act.
1960, 1975		Wentworth & Flexner DAS.
2000		(con. 1940s–60s) Décharné Straight from the Fridge Dad 17: Boots laced up tight Hep, righteous, in the know, a suave customer.

(US black) to inform, to explain to.

1937

A.E. Duckett ‘Truckin ’round Brooklyn’ in N.Y. Age 17 Apr. 7/1: In case you’re not hipped [...] we’re lacin’ your boots for ya.

a general intensifier, e.g. fight like old boots, to fight enthusiastically.

1845		J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 122: I hooked it; and, calling in the Charlies, why we fetched ’em on like old boots, sir, at the very fact.
1850		F.E. Smedley Frank Fairlegh (1878) 223: He [...] drove his heels into ‘Tom Trot’ – that’s the new grey horse, sir, if you please – and was out of sight like old boots.
1868		M.E. Braddon Sir Jasper xxvii, 282: I’ll stick to you like old boots [F&H].
1873		Sl. Dict. 241: Old boots a simile as general in its application as it is irrelevant. ‘Like old boots’ means like anything. ‘As cheeky as old boots;’ ‘As quick as old boots,’ seem a little more reasonable, new boots being somewhat unfavourable to speedy locomotion.
1890		Dead Bird (Sydney) 22 Mar. 5/1: He’ll guzzle down milk like old boots.
1895		‘’Arry on Derby Day’ in Punch 1 June 258/1: He lectured me, too, like old boots.
1909		J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 186/2: Old boots, To fight like. Fight like Marlborough – the first English general to wear immense jack boots. [...] ‘My dawg can fet like old boots, and shoon too.’.
1910		Bulletin (Sydney) 28 July 9/3: Scorbutic youths – absurd galoots – / And aged baldheads go / And are uplifted, like Old Boots, / By sitting through our show.
1922		Joyce Ulysses 590: He could spin those yarns for hours on end all night long and lie like old boots.
1934		Advertiser (Adelaide) 20 Jan. 11/7: An early nickname for his Satanic Majesty, ‘Old Boots’ survives in the expression ‘It’s raining like Old Boots’.

(US) phr. of rejection, disavowal.

1874

‘Old Calabar’ Won in a Canter I 29: ‘[W]e [...] told him we would have him on board in a brace of shakes. “Not in these boots,” he said’.

(US) comprehensively, convincingly, totally.

1877		Omaha Dly Bee (NE) 19 Jan. 4/1: Policeman Byrne [...] on the streets again, ready to shake the disorderly ones out of their boots if they don’t come along with him.
1894		Arizona Republican (Phoenix, AZ) 24 May 2/1: [He] predicts that the Democratic party will be whipped out of its boots in November.
1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Jan. 24/3: First hand I picked up on my return was a heart-flush, and I rose the board out of its boots, and had them all working for me for a fortnight.

(costermonger) to prosper, to make money.

1877		J. Diprose London Life 42: These knights of the barrow – in the language of the fraternity – often boast that if one ‘pulls up his boot,’ he can ‘make up his leg’ by going to market early and ‘knock in’ his ‘ten or twelve hog afore breakfast’.
1909		J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 202/2: Pull up my boot (Costermongers’). To make money. When a man prepares for his day’s work, be pulls on and strings up his boots.

(Irish) to bring to a close.

1922		Joyce Ulysses 362: But Dignam’s put the boots on it.
1944		Joyce Stephen Hero 247: ‘The first day I came here I saw some bills up about a concert.’ ‘O, that’s off. Father Lohan put the boots on that’ .