Boot vs. Dicky — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 2, 2023
A boot is footwear or a car's trunk, while a dicky is a detachable shirt front or a car's rear compartment.
Difference Between Boot and Dicky
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Boot: Footwear protecting the foot and ankle. Dicky: Detachable shirt front, adding formality.
Boot: Trunk of a car in British English. Dicky: Rear compartment in older car models.
Boot: Can imply starting up a computer. Dicky: No technological connotation.
Boot: Essential in various professions. Dicky: More associated with formal wear.
Boot: Often made of leather or rubber. Dicky: Typically made of cloth or fabric.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Footwear or car trunk.
Detachable shirt front or car compartment.
Usage
Worn, or refers to car storage.
Worn or refers to a car section.
Material
Leather, rubber, or fabric.
Usually cloth or fabric.
Context
Fashion, safety, technology.
Fashion, vintage cars.
Variations
Many styles and types.
Limited styles, mostly formal.
Compare with Definitions
Boot
Footwear covering foot and ankle.
She wore sturdy boots for the hike.
Dicky
A false shirt front.
The actor wore a dicky for the costume.
Boot
Process of starting a computer system.
The computer took a while to boot up.
Dicky
Detachable shirt front for formal attire.
He wore a dicky with his tuxedo.
Boot
Protective gear in certain professions.
Firefighters wear specialized boots.
Dicky
Rear compartment in vintage cars.
The dicky in the old car provided extra seating.
Boot
Trunk of a car in British English.
He stored the luggage in the car's boot.
Dicky
Another term for a rumble seat.
The kids loved riding in the car's dicky.
Boot
To remove someone from a place.
He was booted from the club for misconduct.
Dicky
Part of a carriage or early automotive design.
The vintage carriage had a dicky seat.
Boot
A boot, plural boots, is a type of specific footwear. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle, while some also cover some part of the lower calf.
Dicky
(colloquial) A louse.
Boot
A sturdy item of footwear covering the foot and ankle, and sometimes also the lower leg
A pair of walking boots
Dicky
(Cockney rhyming slang) Dicky dirt = a shirt, meaning a shirt with a collar.
Boot
A hard kick
He got a boot in the stomach
Dicky
A detachable shirt front, collar or bib.
Boot
An enclosed space at the back of a car for carrying luggage or other goods.
Dicky
A hat, especially (in the US) a stiff hat or derby, and (in the UK) a straw hat.
Boot
The process of starting a computer and putting it into a state of readiness for operation
A boot disk
Dicky
(dated) A seat behind a carriage or early motor car, for a servant.
Boot
As well; in addition
He is a likeable guy, and funny to boot
Images that are precise, revealing, and often beautiful to boot
Dicky
(dated) A seat in a carriage, for the driver.
Boot
Kick (something) hard in a specified direction
He ended up booting the ball into the stand
Dicky
(South Asia) The luggage storage compartment of a sedan/saloon style car.
Can you open the dicky for me?
Boot
Start (a computer) and put it into a state of readiness for operation
The menu will be ready as soon as you boot up your computer
The system won't boot from the original drive
Dicky
(historical) A leather apron for a gig, etc.
Boot
Place a wheel clamp on (an illegally parked car)
Once a car is booted, the owner must pay all fines plus a fee to have the boot removed
Dicky
A small bird; a dicky-bird.
Boot
A durable covering for the foot and part or much of the leg, usually made of leather, fabric, plastic, or rubber.
Dicky
An insignificant sound or thing; dicky-bird.
Boot
A protective covering, especially a sheath to enclose the base of a floor-mounted gear shift lever in a car or truck.
Dicky
A pilot.
Boot
Chiefly British An automobile trunk.
Dicky
A hedge sparrow.
Boot
A kick.
Dicky
A donkey.
Boot
(Slang) An unceremonious dismissal, as from a job. Used with the.
Dicky
A haddock.
Boot
(Slang) A swift, pleasurable feeling; a thrill.
Dicky
(colloquial) doubtful, troublesome; in poor condition
He had a dicky heart.
Boot
A Denver boot.
Dicky
Like a dick, foolish or obnoxious
Boot
A marine or navy recruit in basic training.
Dicky
Faulty.
I've got this dicky heart
Boot
(Computers) The process of starting or restarting a computer.
Dicky
See dickey.
Boot
Boots An instrument of torture, used to crush the foot and leg.
Dicky
A small third seat in the back of an old-fashioned two-seater
Boot
Chiefly Southern & Midland US See lagniappe.
Dicky
A man's detachable insert (usually starched) to simulate the front of a shirt
Boot
(Archaic) Advantage; avail.
Dicky
(British informal) faulty;
I've got this dicky heart
Boot
To put boots on.
Boot
To kick
Booted the ball into the goal.
Boot
(Slang) To discharge unceremoniously.
Boot
(Computers) To start (a computer) by loading an operating system from a disk.
Boot
To disable (a vehicle) by attaching a Denver boot.
Boot
(Baseball) To misplay (a ground ball).
Boot
To be of help or advantage; avail.
Boot
A heavy shoe that covers part of the leg.
Boot
(sports) A kind of sports shoe worn by players of certain games such as cricket and football.
Boot
A blow with the foot; a kick.
Boot
(construction) A flexible cover of rubber or plastic, which may be preformed to a particular shape and used to protect a shaft, lever, switch, or opening from dust, dirt, moisture, etc.
Boot
(usually preceded by definite article) A torture device used on the feet or legs, such as a Spanish boot.
Boot
(US) A parking enforcement device used to immobilize a car until it can be towed or a fine is paid; a wheel clamp.
Boot
(aviation) A rubber bladder on the leading edge of an aircraft’s wing, which is inflated periodically to remove ice buildup; a deicing boot.
Boot
(obsolete) A place at the side of a coach, where attendants rode; also, a low outside place before and behind the body of the coach.
Boot
(archaic) A place for baggage at either end of an old-fashioned stagecoach.
Boot
A recently arrived recruit; a rookie.
Boot
The luggage storage compartment of a sedan or saloon car.
Boot
The act or process of removing or firing someone (dismissing them from a job or other post).
He was useless so he got the boot.
Boot
An unattractive person, ugly woman.
Old boot
Boot
A black person.
Boot
(firearms) A hard plastic case for a long firearm, typically moulded to the shape of the gun and intended for use in a vehicle.
Boot
(baseball) A bobbled ball.
Boot
(botany) The inflated flag leaf sheath of a wheat plant.
Boot
(slang) A linear amplifier used with CB radio.
Boot
A tyre.
Boot
(US) A crust end-piece of a loaf of bread.
Boot
Remedy, amends.
Boot
(uncountable) Profit, plunder.
Boot
That which is given to make an exchange equal, or to make up for the deficiency of value in one of the things exchanged; compensation; recompense.
Boot
(obsolete) Profit; gain; advantage; use.
Boot
(obsolete) Repair work; the act of fixing structures or buildings.
Boot
(obsolete) A medicinal cure or remedy.
Boot
(computing) The act or process of bootstrapping; the starting or re-starting of a computing device.
It took three boots, but I finally got the application installed.
Boot
(informal) A bootleg recording.
Boot
To kick.
I booted the ball toward my teammate.
Boot
To put boots on, especially for riding.
Boot
To step on the accelerator of a vehicle for faster acceleration than usual or to drive faster than usual.
The storm is coming fast! Boot it!
We had to boot it all the way there to get to our flight on time.
Boot
To apply corporal punishment (compare slippering).
Boot
(informal) To eject; kick out.
We need to boot those troublemakers as soon as possible.
The senator was booted from the committee for unethical behavior.
Boot
(often with up) To start or restart a computer or other electronic system; to bootstrap.
Boot up the system before 8 a.m. on weekdays.
Boot
To disconnect forcibly; to eject from an online service, conversation, etc.
Boot
(slang) To vomit.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to boot all over your couch.
Boot
To shoot, to kill by gunfire.
Boot
To avail, benefit, profit.
Boot
To benefit, to enrich; to give in addition.
Boot
(computing) To bootstrap; to start a system, e.g. a computer, by invoking its boot process or bootstrap.
When arriving at the office, the first thing I do is boot my machine.
Boot
Remedy; relief; amends; reparation; hence, one who brings relief.
He gaf the sike man his boote.
Thou art boot for many a bruiseAnd healest many a wound.
Next her Son, our soul's best boot.
Boot
That which is given to make an exchange equal, or to make up for the deficiency of value in one of the things exchanged.
I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one.
Boot
Profit; gain; advantage; use.
Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot.
Helen, to change, would give an eye to boot.
A man's heaviness is refreshed long before he comes to drunkenness, for when he arrives thither he hath but changed his heaviness, and taken a crime to boot.
Boot
A covering for the foot and lower part of the leg, ordinarily made of leather.
Boot
An instrument of torture for the leg, formerly used to extort confessions, particularly in Scotland.
So he was put to the torture, which in Scotland they call the boots; for they put a pair of iron boots close on the leg, and drive wedges between them and the leg.
Boot
A place at the side of a coach, where attendants rode; also, a low outside place before and behind the body of the coach.
Boot
A place for baggage at either end of an old-fashioned stagecoach.
Boot
An apron or cover (of leather or rubber cloth) for the driving seat of a vehicle, to protect from rain and mud.
Boot
The metal casing and flange fitted about a pipe where it passes through a roof.
Boot
Booty; spoil.
Boot
To profit; to advantage; to avail; - generally followed by it; as, what boots it?
What booteth it to others that we wish them well, and do nothing for them?
What subduedTo change like this a mind so far imbuedWith scorn of man, it little boots to know.
What boots to us your victories?
Boot
To enrich; to benefit; to give in addition.
And I will boot thee with what gift besideThy modesty can beg.
Boot
To put boots on, esp. for riding.
Coated and booted for it.
Boot
To punish by kicking with a booted foot.
Boot
To boot one's self; to put on one's boots.
Boot
Footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
Boot
British term for the luggage compartment in a car
Boot
The swift release of a store of affective force;
They got a great bang out of it
What a boot!
He got a quick rush from injecting heroin
He does it for kicks
Boot
Protective casing for something that resembles a leg
Boot
An instrument of torture that is used to crush the foot and leg
Boot
The act of delivering a blow with the foot;
He gave the ball a powerful kick
The team's kicking was excellent
Boot
Kick; give a boot to
Boot
Cause to load (an operating system) and start the initial processes;
Boot your computer
Common Curiosities
What's a dicky in old cars?
A rear compartment or seat.
What is a dicky in fashion?
A detachable shirt front.
Can a boot refer to technology?
Yes, booting up a computer.
Are boots versatile?
Yes, they have many styles and uses.
What is a boot primarily?
Footwear or a car's trunk.
Are boots made of leather?
Often, but also rubber or fabric.
Are there waterproof boots?
Yes, especially for outdoor activities.
Can you "boot" someone?
Yes, it means to remove someone.
Can boots be formal?
Yes, like dress boots.
Is a dicky commonly used today?
Mostly in formal or vintage contexts.
Are dickies comfortable?
They're mainly for appearance.
Can a dicky be part of a costume?
Yes, especially in theater or film.
Do boots require maintenance?
Yes, especially leather ones.
Is a dicky the same as a rumble seat?
In automotive terms, yes.
Do dickies provide warmth?
Primarily for appearance, not warmth.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
