From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Blackball \Black"ball`\, n.
1. A composition for blacking shoes, boots, etc.; also, one
for taking impressions of engraved work.
[1913 Webster]
2. A ball of black color, esp. one used as a negative in
voting; -- in this sense usually two words.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
[1913 Webster]
He was blackballed at two clubs in succession.
--Thackeray.
[1913 Webster]
2. To blacken (leather, shoes, etc.) with blacking.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
blackball
n 1: the act of excluding someone by a negative vote or veto
[syn: {barring}, {blackball}]
v 1: expel from a community or group [syn: {banish}, {ban},
{ostracize}, {ostracise}, {shun}, {cast out}, {blackball}]
2: vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent; "The
President vetoed the bill" [syn: {veto}, {blackball},
{negative}]
|
