blackmail








noun

  1. any payment extorted by intimidation, as by threats of injurious revelations or accusations.
  2. the extortion of such payment: He confessed rather than suffer the dishonor of blackmail.
  3. a tribute formerly exacted in the north of England and in Scotland by freebooting chiefs for protection from pillage.

verb (used with object)

  1. to extort money from (a person) by the use of threats.
  2. to force or coerce into a particular action, statement, etc.: The strikers claimed they were blackmailed into signing the new contract.

noun

  1. the act of attempting to obtain money by intimidation, as by threats to disclose discreditable information
  2. the exertion of pressure or threats, esp unfairly, in an attempt to influence someone’s actions

verb (tr)

  1. to exact or attempt to exact (money or anything of value) from (a person) by threats or intimidation; extort
  2. to attempt to influence the actions of (a person), esp by unfair pressure or threats
n.

1550s, from black (adj.) + Middle English male “rent, tribute,” from Old English mal “lawsuit, terms, bargaining, agreement,” from Old Norse mal “speech, agreement;” related to Old English mæðel “meeting, council,” mæl “speech,” Gothic maþl “meeting place,” from Proto-Germanic *mathla-, from PIE *mod- “to meet, assemble” (see meet (v.)). From the practice of freebooting clan chieftains who ran protection rackets against Scottish farmers. Black from the evil of the practice. Expanded c.1826 to any type of extortion money. Cf. silver mail “rent paid in money” (1590s); buttock-mail (Scottish, 1530s) “fine imposed for fornication.”

v.

1852, from blackmail (n.). Related: Blackmailed; blackmailing.

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