bootleg

UK: /ˈbuːtlɛg/ US: /ˈbutˌlɛg/ ,(bo̅o̅t′leg′)

Inflections of 'bootleg' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

bootlegs

v 3rd person singular

bootlegging

v pres p

bootlegged

v past

bootlegged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

boot•leg /ˈbutˌlɛg/   n., v., -legged, -leg•ging, adj. 
n. [uncountable]

1. Wine alcoholic liquor unlawfully made, sold, or transported.
2. something, such as a CD, made, reproduced, or sold unlawfully.

v. 

to make, transport, sell, or deal in (goods) unlawfully: [~ + object]

They bootlegged the tapes for huge profits.

[no object]

bootlegging for years before anyone noticed.

adj. [before a noun]

4. made, sold, or transported unlawfully:
   bootleg whiskey.

boot•leg•ger, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

boot•leg  (bo̅o̅t′leg′), n., v., -legged, -leg•ging, adj. 
n. 

1. Wine alcoholic liquor unlawfully made, sold, or transported, without registration or payment of taxes.
2. Clothing the part of a boot that covers the leg.
3. something, as a recording, made, reproduced, or sold illegally or without authorization:
   a flurry of bootlegs to cash in on the rock star's death.

v.t. 

4. to deal in (liquor or other goods) unlawfully.

v.i. 

5. to make, transport, or sell something, esp. liquor, illegally or without registration or payment of taxes.

adj. 

6. made, sold, or transported unlawfully.
7. illegal or clandestine.
8. of or pertaining to bootlegging.

• 1625–35, American; boot¹ + leg; secondary senses arose from practice of hiding a liquor bottle in the leg of one's boot

boot′leg′ger, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bootleg / ˈbuːtˌlɛɡ/ verb ( -legs, -legging, -legged)

1. to make, carry, or sell (illicit goods, esp alcohol)

noun

1. something made or sold illicitly, such as alcohol during Prohibition in the US
2. an illegally made copy of a CD, tape, etc

adjective

1. produced, distributed, or sold illicitly

Etymology: 17th Century: see boot¹, leg; from the practice of smugglers of carrying bottles of liquor concealed in their boots

ˈbootˌlegger noun