Rainboot

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Waterproof footwear, typically made of rubber, designed to keep the feet dry when walking through wet weather
2. A water-resistant boot pulled on over shoes or bare feet to protect against rain, puddles and mud
3. Rubber or plastic boot that shields the wearer's feet and ankles from moisture during rainy conditions

Etymology: A rainboot is about as transparent as compounds get: "rain" joined to "boot," a footwear term that goes back to Old French "bote" and earlier sources. The pairing is ordinary English word-building, with the first element naming the purpose and the second naming the object, the way "raincoat" and "rainwear" work. Nothing about the word hides a surprise, and the source offers no dates, coiners or first recorded uses to add.

Synonyms: gumboot, galosh, wellie