boost English · revision 5369

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=1815}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /buːst/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an American word of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) Barnhart finds a link with earlier bouse “to haul ship's rigging” (1593) strained, since the first recorded sense was raising someone in rank or honour.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To lift or raise by pushing from behind, both literally and figuratively: 1815, in David Humphreys's The Yankey in England, which defines it as “raise up, lift up, exalt”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a lift or upward push, is by 1825,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and later help or encouragement, especially by publicity.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) In electricity, to increase the voltage of a circuit is from 1906,^(OED 1989) and the supercharging of an engine from 1931.^(OED 1989) In American slang, to steal or shoplift is from 1912.^(OED 1989) ''Booster'' followed in the 19th century.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1815 – verb, to lift, raise.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1825 – noun, a push up.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1906 – in electricity.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1912 – to shoplift (slang).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1931 – engine supercharging.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To increase or raise something: ''boost sales''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To help or encourage: ''boost morale''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To push up from below.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To [[promote]] vigorously.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(slang)'' To [[shoplift]].^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An increase or rise.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that helps or encourages.^(Collins 2023)

+ # An upward push.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[booster]]

+ * [[boosterism]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Scots and northern English dialect, boost or buist is a contraction of behoves, meaning “must, ought”.^(SOED 2002)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}