The Boot.....it makes a wonderful flower holder....or just by itself to decorate an area....but it's connotation is so negative-
"I've been given the boot"(lost your job)
"She's an old boot"(referring either to a female's looks or maybe her undesirable personality)
"Got booted off the field"(pulled from a football/baseball game)
...and many more negative meanings.
We certainly do react to the word.