Young Writers Society

I am currently having an issue with a term I would like to include in my novel, it was used when I was in high school, but I graduated in 2002 and I'm not sure if teenagers still use it, or if it was just a local term.

The term I'm referring to is boot.

As in "would your older brother boot for us"

It was used to describe someone who was old enough to buy alcohol or cigarettes and was willing do do so for kids who still hadn't reached the age of majority.

If you've heard of it, or use it, I would greatly appreciate the info, also if you could indicate your approximate location, either just by country, or possibly a description like "North Eastern USA", it would help me a lot in determining relevance.

Thank You

I've never heard it, either in the Midwestern USA or Northern UK. ^^

I haven't heard it either...and I'm in high school right now.

Yeah...that's new to me as well, sadly enough, despite having already graduated from high school...must be a new one or something.

It's short for bootlegging, in reference to prohibition when the sale of alcohol was illegal, a person of legal age acts as a bootlegger for a minor, to whom the sale of alcohol is prohibited.

I guess it must just be far too outdated.

What is the term used nowadays?

The term used now days is simply 'buy alcohol', as far as I know. As in, 'would your older brother buy alcohol for us?'

Never heard anyone use any sort of special phrase for it in the UK, in any case.

I actually have heard that one, lol.
But it was the outgoing seniors when I was a sophomore.

Even if it is a little outdated, I don't see why you couldn't use it. Just bring it back.

Well, I haven't heard it in NW U.S..... But then again I don't go to school, so I wouldn't know. Let me ask some of my friends about it and I'll get back to you.

That term isn't used anymore because nowadays there are parents just hand their kids alcohol or cigarettes.

Nope, I've had to sit next to plenty of those conversations, the only boots I hear about are the ones people are wearing, and how absolutely ADORABLE they are, and where DID you get them?

Are you sure you graduated from this century? Never have I heard that word and I go to a really urban school.
If you're looking for a word now that's being used...umm...they use proper alot.
"Is that girl fine or what?"
" Ye shes proper..."


"You think your man can hook us up?"
" Ye he's proper. aight man"

or I've heard beer runs regarding the situation but other than that I'm lost...

Toronto, Canada

I've heard "hook us up" like Exialac... never heard of "boot" though. So not in Northern California.

I live in northeast US and I've never heard that before in my life.

I live in NE US and I've never heard someone say that before. Never.

magnusbanefan13 wrote:I live in NE US and I've never heard someone say that before. Never.

^ Just look at that face. She's serious.