boot
UK: buːt | US: buːt
n. a sturdy item of footwear covering the foot and ankle, often extending to the knee
n. (computing) the process of starting up a computer or loading an operating system
vt. to kick something forcefully
vt. (computing) to start up a computer system
The word "boot" traces back to Old French bote (13th century), which referred to a type of footwear. Its deeper roots are uncertain but may link to Germanic or Celtic languages. The computing sense ("to boot") emerged metaphorically in the 1950s, derived from "bootstrap" (pulling oneself up by bootstraps), reflecting the self-starting process of computers. The verb "to boot" (kick) shares the same origin, emphasizing forceful action akin to a kick.
She wore leather boots to trek through the snow.
The system takes a minute to boot up every morning.
He booted the ball straight into the goal.
Unexpected errors can occur if you interrupt the boot process.
The cowboy’s boots were caked with mud after the ride.