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I have long noticed, and my interest was piqued again by what someone said in a recent post, that Americans and Brit-English speakers use different words to refer to footwear in general. Shakespeare referred to "hosen and shoon" and when Americans allude to what they wear on their feet, without intending anything special, they use the word "shoes", whereas Brits tend to say "boots". It even extends to related words; we use the term "shoe shine" rather than "bootblack" or "boot blacking".
Any ideas on how this comes about?
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Anonymous
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Americans never refer to their shoes as "boots", unless they actually *are* boots (they're gaining in popularity again, incidentally...)
We do call babies' shoes "booties", though, but only the soft-soled sock-like things; if they have soles, then they're called shoes. is it the same over there?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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My dictionary says; Shoe
an outer covering for the human foot, made of leather, canvas, etc. and usually having a stiff or thick sole and a heel: sometimes restricted to footwear that does not cover the ankle, as distinguished from a BOOT
What do English dictionaries say?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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My Oxford Dictionary for the Business World says: "1. protective foot-covering of leather etc., esp. one not reaching above the ankle." I suppose a hundred-odd years ago boots were more commonly worn by those who would use the services of a bootblack/shoe shine. I think I would normally use the expression shoe shine boy or shoe shine girl (although in my experience here in Indonesia they usually are boys; I've never used the services of either in the UK).
Bingley
Bingley
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old hand
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old hand
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> we use the term "shoe shine" rather than "bootblack" or "boot blacking".
I would have said 'shoe polish' or 'boot polish' for that stuff.
Before any one asks, yes Aussies call what the Brits know as flip-flops, ...thongs (a typ of loose sandal, or open slipper).
One of the most interesting names I've heard for footwear is the British 'FM boots', not to be confused with the ever popular 'DM boots'.
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enthusiast
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In England women wear shoes, and anything either sex wears that reaches the ankle is a boot. The men's ordinary leather footwear is everywhere else called a shoe, but tends to be a boot here, though I suspect this is slightly old-fashioned and might soon revert to 'shoe'. It can always be called a shoe: it doesn't sound odd to say so.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I am sure I have always worn shoes, never boots, except for wellies when it was raining or snowing.
Bingley
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Yep, I concur with that - I would always says shoes, unless quite specifically meaning ankle-length, sports, or walking boots.
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Carpal Tunnel
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One of the most interesting names I've heard for footwear is the British 'FM boots', not to be confused with the ever popular 'DM boots'
Elucidate, please?
wow
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Carpal Tunnel
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British 'FM boots'They go in and out of fashion quite frequently. But the music's good. 
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