Link Centre Dictionary

bootleg

boot·leg

US/ˈbutˌlɛɡ/ uncommon us
noun (2) adjective (1) verb (2)

noun

1.

whiskey illegally distilled from a corn mash

Synonyms
2.

the part of a boot above the instep

adjective

1.

distributed or sold illicitly

  • “the black economy pays no taxes”
Synonyms
Similar

verb

1.

sell illicit products such as drugs or alcohol

  • “They were bootlegging whiskey”
2.

produce or distribute illegally

  • “bootleg tapes of the diva”

Origin

From boot + leg. Originally a nickname given to smugglers in King George III's reign, derived from the smugglers' custom of hiding packages of valuables in their large sea-boots when dodging the king's coastguardsmen.

Phrases

  • bathtub gin
  • bootleg ground

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.