# Where did the expression "to boot" come from?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-expression-to-boot-come-from/104470>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 19, 2002, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-expression-to-boot-come-from/104470 "2002-04-19T05:15:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bella\_kiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@bella\_kiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bella_kiss)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-expression-to-boot-come-from/104470/1 "2002-04-19T05:15:35Z")

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For example, “boy your dumb, and ugly to boot!” what the heck does to boot mean? any opinions would be appreciated.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-expression-to-boot-come-from/104470/2 "2002-04-19T05:22:44Z")

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Well, [here’s](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-tob1.htm) one explanation of the etymology, improper apostrophe use not withstanding.

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**Author:** ![bella\_kiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@bella\_kiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bella_kiss)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-expression-to-boot-come-from/104470/3 "2002-04-19T05:37:59Z")

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well, thanks.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-expression-to-boot-come-from/104470/4 "2002-04-19T06:05:53Z")

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Ha! My apologies, I was referring to the website I linked, not yourself!

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**Author:** ![bella\_kiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@bella\_kiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bella_kiss)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-expression-to-boot-come-from/104470/5 "2002-04-19T13:10:10Z")

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thank you mr. cynical! i feel better now! 🙂 i appreciate the quick reply. it was cool.

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**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-the-expression-to-boot-come-from/104470/6 "2002-04-19T13:30:02Z")

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Here I was thinking this would be about the phrase in the sense of ‘to vomit’. Zut alors.