Etymology From boot + leg. Originally a nickname given to smugglers in King George III's reign, derived from the smugglers' custom of hiding packages of valuables in their large sea-boots when dodging the king's coastguardsmen.
1
Ambitransitive To engage in bootlegging.
Only certain dishes are allowed—-not fish and lobster, reserved to the state restaurants—-and those paladares that break the rules operate like speakeasies in the time of Prohibition, the fish-bootlegging owners keeping a nervous eye out for informers.2010, Theodore Dalrymple, Our Culture, What’s Left of It:
2
US, Ambitransitive To make, transport and/or sell illegal alcoholic liquor.
In the 1930s, Grandpa used to bootleg to make ends meet.
In the 1930s, Grandpa used to bootleg whiskey from a still hidden in the backwoods.
3
Ambitransitive To make, transport and/or sell an illegal version or copy of a copyrighted product.
In the 1990s, Grandpa used to bootleg under some sort of Robin-Hood-esque notion.
In the 1990s, Grandpa used to bootleg Windows CD-ROMs.
Etymology From boot + leg. Originally a nickname given to smugglers in King George III's reign, derived from the smugglers' custom of hiding packages of valuables in their large sea-boots when dodging the king's coastguardsmen.
1
The part of a boot that is above the instep.
Holonyms: upper < boot
2
An illegally produced, transported, or sold product.
He thinks he can cross this border with bootleg and get away with it. I doubt he's right. Maybe years ago, but not nowadays.
3
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music An unauthorized recording; for example, of a live concert.
Years ago I heard a fantastic bootleg of that song. It was my favorite rendition.
4
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music A remix or mashup that is a combination of two songs but that is not authorized and audited for copyright use; primarily in the electronic music scene.
Etymology From boot + leg. Originally a nickname given to smugglers in King George III's reign, derived from the smugglers' custom of hiding packages of valuables in their large sea-boots when dodging the king's coastguardsmen.
1
Illegally produced, transported, or sold.
Near-synonym: pirated
2
Being an inferior imitation of something, possibly a counterfeit.