General
bootneck
What does bootneck mean?
A Royal Marine. Worn with full pride by the Marines themselves and used by the rest of the British forces — particularly the Navy they serve alongside — with the usual mix of respect and ribbing. If you call a Royal Marine a bootneck you'd better mean it the right way.
"Half the lads on the boat were bootnecks attached for the deployment."
Origin
Dates to the 19th century, when Royal Marines wore a stiff leather stock around the neck of their uniform — the 'boot' (leather) neck. The kit went away; the nickname stuck for two centuries and counting.
Frequently asked questions
What does bootneck mean?
Bootneck is British slang for a Royal Marine.
How do you use bootneck in a sentence?
"My brother's a bootneck — twelve years in the Royal Marines."
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
