boot vs prick

boot

verb
  • To shoot, to kill by gunfire. 

  • 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 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. 

prick

verb
  • To shoot without killing. 

  • To fix by the point; to attach or hang by puncturing. 

  • To aim at a point or mark. 

  • To incite, stimulate, goad. 

  • To make acidic or pungent. 

  • To drive a nail into (a horse's foot), so as to cause lameness. 

  • To affect with sharp pain; to sting, as with remorse. 

  • To become sharp or acid; to turn sour, as wine. 

  • To pierce or puncture slightly. 

  • To make or become sharp; to erect into a point; to raise, as something pointed; said especially of the ears of an animal, such as a horse or dog; and usually followed by up. 

  • To form by piercing or puncturing. 

  • To mark the surface of (something) with pricks or dots; especially, to trace a ship’s course on (a chart). 

  • Usually in the form prick out: to plant (seeds or seedlings) in holes made in soil at regular intervals. 

noun
  • An indentation or small mark made with a pointed object. 

  • A small pointed object. 

  • The experience or feeling of being pierced or punctured by a small, sharp object. 

  • The footprint of a hare. 

  • The penis. 

  • Someone (especially a man or boy) who is unpleasant, rude or annoying. 

  • A small roll of yarn or tobacco. 

  • A feeling of remorse. 

  • A small hole or perforation, caused by piercing. 

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