The boondocks is a remote, usually brushy rural area, the sticks. The expression developed among American military serving in the Philippines during the early years of the 20th century. It is derived from the Tagalog word for mountain, bundok. In demographics the boondocks is a hardscrabble rural district characterized by backwardness.
A diminutive form, '"the boonies" exists. Equipment suitable for traveling in the boondocks has been referred to as "boondockers".