boot-black

A form of bootblack — A shoeshine boy; a person who shines shoes as an occupation.

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Meanings

nounboot-black (plural boot-blacks)

plural boot-blacks

  1. alternativeAlternative spelling of bootblack.

    “Thank you,” said Frank; “now you had better brush your own shoes.” This had not occurred to Dick, for in general the professional boot-black considers his blacking too valuable to expend on his own shoes or boots, if he is fortunate enough to possess a pair.

    1868, Horatio Alger Jr., Ragged Dick
Cite this entry
APA

boot-black. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/boot-black

MLA

“boot-black.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/boot-black. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “boot-black,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/boot-black.

Source: boot-black on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.