Sekirov Dictionary

blackball

UK /ˈblækbɔːl/US /ˈblækbɑl/

noun 5
verb 2
forms 3

noun5

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.
A game, a standardized version of the English version of eight-ball.
A kind of large black sweet, a black-colored gobstopper.
A substance for blacking shoes, boots, etc. or for taking impressions of engraved work.

verb2

•
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.
•
To ostracize.
- Henry knew. If he were blackballed by this distaff Mafia, he was doomed: Endless, but always justifiable, delays would occur in the work he wanted typed. — 1968

forms

blackballed · blackballing · blackballs

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