Bootblack: meaning, definitions and examples
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bootblack
[ ˈbuːtblæk ]
occupation, trade
A bootblack is a person whose occupation is to polish shoes. Bootblacks typically work in public places, such as streets, train stations, or in shoe-shining parlors, providing a service to maintain the appearance of footwear. The profession can invoke images of a bygone era, where shiny shoes were a symbol of respectability and personal pride.
Synonyms
cobbler, shoe polisher, shoe shiner.
Examples of usage
- The bootblack at the station quickly polished my shoes.
- He started as a bootblack and worked his way up in the fashion industry.
- Many businessmen would stop by the bootblack booth before important meetings.
- The young boy aspired to become a bootblack like his father.
Translations
Translations of the word "bootblack" in other languages:
🇵🇹 engraxador
🇮🇳 जूते की चमकाने वाला
🇩🇪 Schuhputzer
🇮🇩 pelapak sepatu
🇺🇦 чистильник взуття
🇵🇱 szewc
🇯🇵 靴磨き屋
🇫🇷 cirier
🇪🇸 limpiabotas
🇹🇷 ayakkabı boyacısı
🇰🇷 구두닦이
🇸🇦 مُلمع الأحذية
🇨🇿 čistič bot
🇸🇰 čistič topánok
🇨🇳 擦鞋匠
🇸🇮 čistilec čevljev
🇮🇸 skóhreinsari
🇰🇿 аяқ киім тазалаушы
🇬🇪 საცმელის წმინდაო
🇦🇿 ayaqqabı təmizləyən
🇲🇽 limpiabotas
Etymology
The term 'bootblack' originated in the mid-19th century, combining 'boot,' which itself derives from the Old French 'bote' (meaning a type of footwear), and 'black,' related to the act of polishing, often using blackening agents. During the industrial revolution, urbanization led to increased demand for services like shoe polishing, as many people transitioned to city life and needed to maintain a polished appearance in their footwear. The role of a bootblack became more prominent in public settings such as train stations, where passengers would seek to enhance their image quickly. The profession, often associated with children's street work, highlights class distinctions and societal norms of grooming and fashion prevalent during that period. While modern times have diminished the widespread visibility of bootblacks, the term still evokes a sense of nostalgia for a time when shoe care was considered a critical aspect of personal presentation.