Bootblack

Pronunciation: /ˈbutˌblæk/

Definitions of bootblack

noun A person who shines and polishes shoes for a living

Example Sentences

A1 The bootblack polished my shoes until they shined.

A2 I always visit the bootblack at the train station to get my shoes cleaned.

B1 The bootblack offered to shine my boots for a small fee.

B2 The bootblack's skills at shining shoes were unmatched in the city.

C1 The bootblack had a loyal clientele who appreciated his attention to detail.

C2 The bootblack's reputation as the best in town was well-deserved.

Examples of bootblack in a Sentence

formal The bootblack did an excellent job shining my shoes.

informal I always make sure to stop by the bootblack before a big event.

slang The bootblack hooked me up with a fresh shine on my kicks.

figurative In the corporate world, he was known as the bootblack of the office, always making sure everything was polished and presentable.

Grammatical Forms of bootblack

• past tense: bootblacked
• plural: bootblacks
• comparative: more bootblack
• superlative: most bootblack
• present tense: bootblacks
• future tense: will bootblack
• perfect tense: have bootblacked
• continuous tense: is bootblacking
• singular: bootblack
• positive degree: bootblack
• infinitive: to bootblack
• gerund: bootblacking
• participle: bootblacked

Origin and Evolution of bootblack

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'bootblack' originated from the combination of 'boot' and 'black', referring to a person who shines or polishes boots.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'bootblack' has become less commonly used as the profession of shining shoes has declined in popularity. It is now more commonly referred to as a shoe shiner or shoe polish.