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blackball - 6 dictionary results

black⋅ball

  [blak-bawl]
Use blackball in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to vote against (a candidate, applicant, etc.).
2. to exclude socially; ostracize: The whole town blackballed them.
3. to reject (a candidate) by placing a blackball in the ballot box.
–noun
4. a negative vote, esp. in deciding on an applicant or candidate.
5. a black ball placed in a ballot box signifying a negative vote.
Origin:
1760–70; black + ball 1

Related forms:
blackballer, noun

Synonyms:
2. boycott, ban, debar, snub, cut.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To blackball
black·ball   (blāk'bôl')   
n.  
  1. A negative vote, especially one that blocks the admission of an applicant to an organization.
  2. A small black ball used as a negative ballot.
tr.v.   black·balled, black·ball·ing, black·balls
  1. To vote against, especially to veto the admission of.
  2. To shut out from social or commercial participation; ostracize or boycott.
black'ball'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to exclude from social, professional, or commercial activities: blackballed by the fraternity; blacklisted because of her political beliefs; a threat to boycott the product; ostracized following the harassment charges.
Antonym: admit
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Blackball

Black"ball`\, n. 1. A composition for blacking shoes, boots, etc.; also, one for taking impressions of engraved work.

2. A ball of black color, esp. one used as a negative in voting; -- in this sense usually two words.

Blackball

Black"ball`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackballed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blackballing.]

1. To vote against, by putting a black ball into a ballot box; to reject or exclude, as by voting against with black balls; to ostracize.

He was blackballed at two clubs in succession. --Thackeray.

2. To blacken (leather, shoes, etc.) with blacking.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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blackball

A rejection of an applicant's membership in a private organization, such as a club or fraternity. The term is derived from the traditional practice of members voting anonymously on admitting new members, using either a white marble (acceptance) or a black marble (denial). Acceptance must be unanimous; therefore, one black marble in the ballot box is enough to keep the applicant out of the organization.

Note: The term is now applied generally to efforts — especially unreasonable or vengeful actions — to keep a people or groups out of organizations they wish to join.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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blackball  (v.)
"to exclude from a club by adverse votes," 1770, from black + ball. Black balls of wood or ivory dropped into the urn during secret ballots.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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