boot vs lay off

boot

verb
  • To disconnect forcibly; to eject from an online service, conversation, etc. 

  • To bootstrap; to start a system, e.g. a computer, by invoking its boot process or bootstrap. 

  • To apply corporal punishment (compare slippering). 

  • To vomit. 

  • To eject; kick out. 

  • To kick. 

  • To shoot, to kill by gunfire. 

  • To start or restart a computer or other electronic system; to bootstrap. 

  • To put boots on, especially for riding. 

  • To step on the accelerator of a vehicle for faster acceleration than usual or to drive faster than usual. 

noun
  • A tyre. 

  • A torture device used on the feet or legs, such as a Spanish boot. 

  • The act or process of removing or firing someone (dismissing them from a job or other post). 

  • The inflated flag leaf sheath of a wheat plant. 

  • A crust end-piece of a loaf of bread. 

  • A parking enforcement device used to immobilize a car until it can be towed or a fine is paid; a wheel clamp. 

  • The act or process of bootstrapping; the starting or re-starting of a computing device. 

  • That which is given to make an exchange equal, or to make up for the deficiency of value in one of the things exchanged; compensation; recompense. 

  • An unattractive person, ugly woman. 

  • The luggage storage compartment of a sedan or saloon car. 

  • Profit, plunder. 

  • A hard plastic case for a long firearm, typically moulded to the shape of the gun and intended for use in a vehicle. 

  • A heavy shoe that covers part of the leg. 

  • A recently arrived recruit; a rookie. 

  • A linear amplifier used with CB radio. 

  • A bootleg recording. 

  • A bobbled ball. 

  • A blow with the foot; a kick. 

  • A flexible cover of rubber or plastic, which may be preformed to a particular shape and used to protect a shaft, lever, switch, or opening from dust, dirt, moisture, etc. 

  • A rubber bladder on the leading edge of an aircraft’s wing, which is inflated periodically to remove ice buildup; a deicing boot. 

  • A kind of sports shoe worn by players of certain games such as cricket and football. 

  • A black person. 

lay off

verb
  • To stop bothering, teasing, or pestering someone; to leave (someone) alone. 

  • In painting, to apply gentle strokes to smooth a wet coat of paint so as to remove visible roller- or brush-marks, commonly using a dry brush; a similar technique, but using a loaded laying-off brush, may produce a smooth coat of paint when using a roller or the usual brush techniques would leave marks. 

  • To place all or part of a bet with another bookmaker in order to reduce risk. 

  • To plan out (a navigational course) using a chart. 

  • To cease, quit, stop (doing something). 

  • (of an employer) To dismiss (workers) from employment, e.g. at a time of low business volume or through no fault of the worker, often with a severance package. 

How often have the words boot and lay off occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )