Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Blackball

Black′ballˊ

,
Noun.
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.

Black′ballˊ

,
Verb.
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.

Definition 2024


blackball

blackball

English

Noun

blackball (plural blackballs)

  1. A rejection, a vote against admitting someone.
  2. A black ball used to indicate such a negative vote.
    Regardless how many other people may have voted to approve a candidate for membership, a single blackball will reject the candidate.
  3. the act of so rejecting someone.
  4. A kind of large black sweet; a niggerball.
  5. A substance for blacking shoes, boots, etc. or for taking impressions of engraved work.

Verb

blackball (third-person singular simple present blackballs, present participle blackballing, simple past and past participle blackballed)

  1. (transitive) To vote against, especially in an exclusive organization.
    If you're not from a moneyed, well-connected family, you can count on getting blackballed from the fraternity.
    • 1898, Willa Cather, The Westbound Train
      Why, if I had known you all my life I should have grown up in the condition of Adam before the fall, and they would have blackballed me at the clubs.
  2. (transitive) To ostracize.