n. pl. boo·ties 1. Plunder taken from an enemy in time of war. 2. Goods or property seized by force or piracy. 3. A valuable prize, award, or gain. [Late Middle English buty, botye (influenced by bote, advantage; see BOOT2), probably from Middle Low German būte, booty, sharing of spoils, possibly from būten, to share out, distribute, plunder, from Germanic *biūtjan, to give out, distribute, perhaps from Germanic *ūt, out; see ud- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots. Alternatively Middle Low German būten, ultimately from or akin to Proto-Celtic *bowdi-, booty; compare Old Irish búaid, victory, gain, and Welsh budd, booty, gain.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. pl. boo·ties also boo·dies 1. Slang The buttocks. 2. Vulgar Slang a. The vulva or vagina. b. Sexual intercourse. [African American Vernacular English, from obsolete African American Vernacular English booty, body, perhaps alteration of BODY.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.