* "Bootleg" refers to a hidden compartment in a boot, commonly used to smuggle liquor during Prohibition.
* "Bootlegger" evolved to describe those who illegally produced, transported, and sold alcoholic beverages.
The Origin Story:
Prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcohol in the United States. This created a huge demand for liquor, leading to an underground market fueled by "bootleggers."
These individuals would smuggle alcohol from other countries or produce it themselves in secret "stills." They would hide the liquor in various creative ways, including concealed flasks and, yes, even in boots.
The term "bootlegger" became synonymous with this illegal activity, capturing the image of someone discreetly carrying contraband under their clothes.
Beyond Prohibition:
Although the term "bootlegger" is most associated with the Prohibition era, it has since evolved to encompass other forms of illegal activities, such as the production and distribution of counterfeit goods.
However, the original meaning of "bootlegger" as someone smuggling alcohol during Prohibition remains the most common and widely understood use of the term.