boot-topn.
1. The upper part of a boot; esp. of top-boots.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > upper > types of
top1629
boot-top1771
sock1851
boot-uppera1877
1771 W. Wales in Philos. Trans. 1770 (Royal Soc.) 60 109 I saw one woman with a child in each boot top.
1825 S. Adams & S. Adams Compl. Servant 384 Liquid for cleansing Boot Tops, etc.
1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pelham I. xxxii. 284 The autocrat of the great world of fashion..fed the pampered appetite of his boot-tops on champagne.
2. Nautical.
Categories »
a. In phrase ‘to give a ship boot-tops’: see quot.
b. = boot-topping n. b.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > side(s) of vessel > [noun] > waterline > part between light laden waterlines > sheathing on
boot-top1842
1765 T. H. Croker et al. Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. II. (at cited word) It is usual to make her heel, or incline first to one side and then to the other..having scrubbed off the ooze, shells..with brushes and brooms, they cover it with a mixture of tallow, sulphur, etc., and this is called giving her boot-tops.
1842 J. F. Cooper Jack o' Lantern I. 126 Every vessel that isn't coppered shows her boot-top.
c. = boot-topping n. c. Also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > side(s) of vessel > [noun] > waterline > part between light laden waterlines
boot-top1788
boot-topping1894
1788 Earl of Dundonald Direct. for using Coal Tar 24 Painting vessels boot-tops with white lead and oil, has been discontinued..in the Navy.
1937 H. A. Calahan Ship's Husband xviii. 229 Between the topsides and the bottom, it is frequently customary to paint a boot-top. The boot-top..separates the topsides from the bottom.
1949 P. Heaton Sailing 247 When painting..mark in the boot top with tacks.
1958 Times 22 Sept. 14/1 The red boot-top line on the yacht's hull was more clearly visible forward than aft.
Derivatives
boot-top v. to subject (a vessel) to ‘boot-topping’.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > build a ship [verb (transitive)] > fit out or equip > clean and coat ship's bottom > subject to boot-topping
boot-top1724
1724 ‘C. Johnson’ Gen. Hist. Pyrates (ed. 2) xi. 211 Here they watered, boot-topp'd their Ship, and made ready for the designed Cruise.
1768 J. Cook Jrnl. 15 Nov. (1893) i. 19 Got all the Empty Casks on shore, and set the Coopers to Work to repair them; Heeld and Boot Topt the Starboard side.
1908 Chambers's Jrnl. Nov. 829/1 The system is in operation upon the Clyde with great success, boot-topping the fast pleasure-craft plying on the river.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1724