Obs. Also 6–7 boote. [App. an application of the prec., influenced by the already-existing BOOTY; perhaps due to the phrase to make boot of, ‘to make profit of’ (cf. BOOT sb.1 3, quot. 1606), being taken as ‘to make booty of.’]
Booty; spoil; plunder.
1598. Chapman, Iliad, XI. 585. We foraged, as proclaimed foes, a wondrous wealthy boot … our prey was rich and great.
a. 1618. Sylvester, Job Triumph., III. 119. Rising betimes for Boot like Free-booters.
1623. Bingham, Xenophon, 119. It was decreed, that … all boot taken in priuate should be deliuered vp to the vse of the generalitie.
b. esp. in phr. To make boot.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. i. 13. Thou that art his Mate, make boote of this. Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., I. ii. 194. Others [Bees] like Souldiers … Make boote vpon the Summers Veluet buddes: Which pillage, they … bring home.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VII. vii. 38. Harvests riches, which he made his boot.
1641. Heywood, Reader, Here you’l, &c. 5. They make Boote Of every thing we wear from head to foote.
1885. Child, Ballads, III. § 61. 57/2. Stopping only long enough to make boot of Hjelmer’s gold.
