boom2

[boom] /bum/
noun
1.
Nautical. any of various more or less horizontal spars or poles for extending the feet of sails, especially fore-and-aft sails, for handling cargo, suspending mooring lines alongside a vessel, pushing a vessel away from wharves, etc.
2.
Aeronautics.
  1. an outrigger used on certain aircraft for connecting the tail surfaces to the fuselage.
  2. a maneuverable and retractable pipe on a tanker aircraft for refueling another aircraft in flight.
  3. chord1 (def 4).
3.
a chain, cable, series of connected floating timbers, or the like, serving to obstruct navigation, confine floating timber, etc.
4.
the area thus shut off.
5.
Machinery. a spar or beam projecting from the mast of a derrick for supporting or guiding the weights to be lifted.
6.
(on a motion-picture or television stage) a spar or beam on a mobile crane for holding or manipulating a microphone or camera.
verb (used with object)
7.
to extend or position, as a sail (usually followed by out or off).
8.
to manipulate (an object) by or as by means of a crane or derrick.
verb (used without object)
9.
to sail at full speed.
Idioms
10.
lower the boom, to take decisive punitive action:
The government has lowered the boom on tax evaders.
Origin
1635-45; < Dutch: tree, pole, beam
Related forms
boomless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for lower the boom

boom1

/buːm/
verb
1.
to make a deep prolonged resonant sound, as of thunder or artillery fire
2.
to prosper or cause to prosper vigorously and rapidly: business boomed
noun
3.
a deep prolonged resonant sound: the boom of the sea
4.
the cry of certain animals, esp the bittern
5.
a period of high economic growth characterized by rising wages, profits, and prices, full employment, and high levels of investment, trade, and other economic activity Compare depression (sense 5)
6.
any similar period of high activity
7.
the activity itself: a baby boom
Word Origin
C15: perhaps from Dutch bommen, of imitative origin

boom2

/buːm/
noun
1.
(nautical) a spar to which a sail is fastened to control its position relative to the wind
2.
a beam or spar pivoting at the foot of the mast of a derrick, controlling the distance from the mast at which a load is lifted or lowered
3.
a pole, usually extensible, carrying an overhead microphone and projected over a film or television set
4.
  1. a barrier across a waterway, usually consisting of a chain of connected floating logs, to confine free-floating logs, protect a harbour from attack, etc
  2. the area so barred off
Word Origin
C16: from Dutch boom tree, beam
Word Origin and History for lower the boom

boom

v.

mid-15c., earliest use was for bees and wasps, probably echoic of humming. The meaning "make a loud noise" is 15c. Cf. bomb. Meaning "to burst into prosperity" (of places, businesses, etc.) is 1871, American English. Related: Boomed; booming. Boom box first attested 1978.

n.

"long pole," 1540s, from Scottish boun, borrowed from Dutch boom "tree, pole, beam," from a Middle Dutch word analogous to Old English beam (see beam (n.)).

in the business sense, 1873, sometimes said to be from boom (n.1), from the nautical meaning "a long spar run out to extend the foot of a sail" -- a ship "booming" being one in full sail. But it could just as well be from boom (v.) on the notion of "suddenness."

Slang definitions & phrases for lower the boom

lower the boom

verb phrase
  1. To deliver a knockout punch: When he got his Irish up, Clancy lowered the boom
  2. To punish; exact obedience and docility: if we lower the boom on every nonconformist in society/ My patience evaporated and I lowered the boom on them (1940s+)

boom

adjective

Wonderful; fashionable; outstanding; great (1990s+ Canadian students)

noun

Marijuana (1950s+ Narcotics)

verb
  1. To flourish; show vigor: Business is booming! (1860s+)
  2. To promote aggressively: There he goes booming that brand of soap (1890s+)
  3. (also boom along) To sail fast, under full canvas (1600s+ Nautical)
Related Terms

fall down and go boom,lower the boom


Idioms and Phrases with lower the boom

boom

see: lower the boom