v. Obs. [f. BOOT sb.2 booty + HALE v. to haul.]
1. intr. To carry off booty or spoil; to practise plundering, marauding or pilfering.
1598. [see BOOT-HALING vbl. sb.]
1609. Heywood, Sallust, 33. Some made Merchandize of Fugitiues and others went a boot-haling into the confederate countries.
1611. Cotgr., Butiner, to prey, get bootie … to bootehale it.
1658. W. Burton, Itin. Anton., 150. A people forward to Boot-hale, and consume, but backward to the duties of War.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, II. (1692), 182. Young men lived idly, which made them want, and therefore were ready for Bustles and Commotions to boot-hale and consume.
2. trans. To spoil; to pillage; to plunder.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 145. Boote-hal’d all the Coast unto Caieta.
1625. Lisle, Du Bartas, 133. No Hircan Tygers flight boot-hailes thy vaulted hills.
