People who illegally make, transport, or sell goods like alcohol, especially during Prohibition when alcohol was banned in the United States.
From 'bootleg,' originally referring to the practice of hiding liquor bottles in the legs of tall boots during the 1920s prohibition era. The term evolved from the literal hiding place to describe anyone engaged in illegal alcohol trade.
During the 1920s American Prohibition, bootleggers became so wealthy and powerful that some became folk heroes—Al Capone's criminal empire actually started with bootlegging! The word shows how slang from one era can teach us about historical moments.
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