Bootleg is a slang term which originated in the colorful English of the American West. It refers to an activity which is illegal or clandestine. The term is usually used to refer to objects which are transported, made, or used for illegal purposes, ranging from bootleg alcohol which is sold secretly to avoid high taxes, to a bootleg radio station which broadcasts illegally using equipment which has been cobbled together by the operators.
People first started using this word in the 1800s, with the first recorded usage dating to 1889. The term was a reference to concealing a flask of alcohol inside a boot; people bootlegged alcohol to transport it for illegal sale and consumption. While the word initially referred to alcohol specifically, its meaning slowly expanded to include any sort of illicit, illegal, or clandestinely traded item, from a bootlegged cassette of a live musical performance to a bootlegged video game.
People first started using this word in the 1800s, with the first recorded usage dating to 1889. The term was a reference to concealing a flask of alcohol inside a boot; people bootlegged alcohol to transport it for illegal sale and consumption. While the word initially referred to alcohol specifically, its meaning slowly expanded to include any sort of illicit, illegal, or clandestinely traded item, from a bootlegged cassette of a live musical performance to a bootlegged video game.