jackboot

noun

jack·​boot ˈjak-ˌbüt How to pronounce jackboot (audio)
1
a
: a heavy military boot made of glossy black leather extending above the knee and worn especially during the 17th and 18th centuries
b
: a laceless military boot reaching to the calf
2
: the spirit or policy of militarism or totalitarianism

Examples of jackboot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Washington Post journalist Robert Kagan said that fascism won’t come to America with jackboots and salutes. — Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2024 German soldiers also suffered more rapidly because their jackboots had steel studs that drained any warmth. — Antony Beevor, Foreign Affairs, 29 Dec. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of jackboot was in 1686

Rhymes for jackboot

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“Jackboot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jackboot. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

jackboot

noun
jack·​boot -ˌbüt How to pronounce jackboot (audio)
: a heavy military boot
especially : one reaching above the knee

More from Merriam-Webster on jackboot

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jackboot

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