blackmail
pronunciation
How to pronounce blackmail in British English:
UK [ˈblækmeɪl]
How to pronounce blackmail in American English:
US [ˈblækmeɪl]
-
- Noun:
- extortion of money by threats to divulge discrediting information
-
- Verb:
- exert pressure on someone through threats
- obtain through threats
Word Origin
- blackmail
- blackmail: see mail
- blackmail (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. Compare silver mail "rent paid in money" (1590s); buttock-mail (Scottish, 1530s) "fine imposed for fornication."
- blackmail (v.)
- 1852, from blackmail (n.). Related: Blackmailed; blackmailing.
Example
- 1. This was denounced in colombo as economic blackmail .
- 2. Or will that look like giving in to russian blackmail ?
- 3. This is not a threat or blackmail , insist eu officials .
- 4. The ploy was a bait and switch , an act of emotional blackmail .
- 5. Almost as worrying are signs mr netanyahu wants to blackmail the obama administration .