Definition

by Catherine Örmen

The Old French ‘bote’ (from whence the English word ‘boot’ derived c.1325) only took one t in the 12th century, but as people have two legs, a second t was soon added, becoming ‘botte’ (also meaning ‘bunch’ or ‘bundle’). Boots – even cats got to wear them: in order to fill his master’s boots, or otherwise to make a fortune for the Marquis of Carabas, Puss in Boots had no qualms about greasing the king’s boots, that is to say, flattering him, and slipping on the boots of the ogre that he ate. History doesn’t make clear whether or not he had any seven league boots, as did Little Tom Thumb. These tales, I hear you say, are quite over the top, you’ve already had it up to the knees, because actually you were waiting to hear more about this footwear that encloses the leg from the toe as far as (sometimes) the thigh. So, hurry up, get your skating boots on and turn that page!