And I will boot thee with what gift beside
Thy modesty can beg.
Shak.
Boot, n. [OE. bote, OF. bote, F. botte, LL. botta; of uncertain origin.] 1. A covering for the foot and lower part of the leg, ordinarily made of leather.
2. An instrument of torture for the leg, formerly used to extort confessions, particularly in Scotland.
So he was put to the torture, which in Scotland they call the boots; for they put a pair of iron boots close on the leg, and drive wedges between them and the leg.
Bp. Burnet.
3. A place at the side of a coach, where attendants rode; also, a low outside place before and behind the body of the coach. [Obs.]