A "bootlegger" refers to a person who illegally produces, distributes, or sells alcoholic beverages without government authorization. This term became particularly prominent during the Prohibition era in the United States (1920-1933), when the manufacture and sale of alcohol were banned. Bootleggers often operated in secret, using hidden distilleries or smuggling routes to evade law enforcement. The activities of bootleggers contributed to the rise of organized crime, as they often collaborated with gangs to transport and sell their products. The term can also apply to those who illegally distribute other goods, but it is most commonly associated with the illicit alcohol trade during the Prohibition period.