Bootleg

As a noun, bootleg means the top part of a boot, the part that is around the leg instead of the foot. From the practice of hiding small items in a boot shaft to smuggle them past the authorities, the word became a verb, meaning "to smuggle", and an adjective, describing something that has been smuggled (or, more rarely, stolen), with people who make and sell bootlegs often being known as "bootleggers." The term bootleg can refer to:

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• A musical recording taped without the artist's consent, usually in a live context. See bootleg recording.
• A piece of music which contains unlicensed samples. See bastard pop.
• An alcoholic beverage sold without regard to legal regulations and taxes. See bootleg liquor.
• A pirate radio station.
• A counterfeit piece of merchandise.
• A tactic in American football. See bootleg play.
• A title of an Australian tv series - BOOTLEG (TV series)

The term bootleg is often confused with the terms 'pirate' or 'pirate copy', which refer to unauthorised duplicates of material already commercially available, which are sold illegally at price that is significantly lower than the standard retail one.

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