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)
- A rejection, a vote against admitting someone.
- 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.
- the act of so rejecting someone.
- A kind of large black sweet; a niggerball.
- 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)
- (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.
- (transitive) To ostracize.