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Here's the OED on the subject, starting in c. 1000<br><br>1. Good: in phrase to boot: 'to the good', to advantage, into the bargain, in addition; besides, moreover.<br> c1000 Daniel 200 (Gr.) Cuð ¼edydon, þæt hie+noldon; oft hie to bote bealde ¼ecwædon. 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1825) 163 (Mätz), A hundreth knyghtes mo+and four hundreth to bote, squieres of gode aray. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. xiv. 268 Bi assent of sondry partyes and syluer to bote. 1543 J. Willoughby in Strype Cranmer (1694) App. 66 Mr. Gardiner to sign for himself, and Serles to boot. 1652 Earl of Monmouth Hist. Relations 171 To boot that he had received many distastes from the French. Ibid. 9 To boot with the Councel of the States General, the United Provinces have three Councels apart. 1653 tr. Carmeni's Nissena 42 To boot that it was commonly whispered about, etc. 1660 Pepys Diary 13 Feb., For two books that I had and 6s. 6d. to boot I had my great book of songs. a1679 T. Goodwin Wks. (1861) I. 88 He shall have all things into boot. a1711 Ken Damonet Poet Wks. 1721 IV. 505 Would you give yours, and your whole Flock to boot. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. iv. 222 One who held all Gaul and all Britain, with seemingly Germany to boot.
<br><br>Regards<br><br>Margaret Marks<br>
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