Plural of bootblack; multiple people who shine and polish boots and shoes.
Plural form of 'bootblack,' maintaining the compound structure. The occupation was so prevalent that English needed both singular and plural forms.
In 19th-century cities, bootblack gangs controlled street corners, and the profession was dramatically depicted in art and literature as a marker of urban poverty. It's now almost extinct due to sneakers and professional dry-cleaning services.
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