ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bootleg

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈbutˌɫɛɡ// UK //bˈuːtlɛɡ// boot·leg

n. a recording of a concert or a copy of a movie that is made and sold without permission. It is often used to describe unofficial music or videos that fans trade.

n. an illegal or unauthorised recording of a broadcast or live performance, or a product made and sold without the copyright owner's permission.


SIMPLE

He bought a rare bootleg of the band's first concert.

CONTEXTUAL

Collectors often pay high prices for a high-quality bootleg of a legendary performance that was never officially released.

COMPLEX

While the studio initially tried to suppress the bootleg, they eventually realised that its popularity among the fanbase indicated a significant market for a remastered official release of the archival material.

Synonyms
Origin

From boot + leg. Originally a nickname given to smugglers in King George III's reign, derived from the smugglers' custom of hiding packages of valuables in their large sea-boots when dodging the king's coastguardsmen.

Usage

Often used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'bootleg recording' or 'bootleg copy'.

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