blackball

English

/ˈblækbɔːl/

noun
Definitions
  • A rejection; a vote against admitting someone.
  • A black ball used to indicate such a negative vote.
  • A kind of large black sweet; a niggerball.
  • A substance for blacking shoes, boots, etc. or for taking impressions of engraved work.

Etymology

Compound from English black (dark haired, black haired) + English ball (testicle, round object).

Origin

English

ball

Gloss

testicle, round object

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms