blackmail

[blak-meyl] /ˈblækˌmeɪl/
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)
4.
to extort money from (a person) by the use of threats.
5.
to force or coerce into a particular action, statement, etc.:
The strikers claimed they were blackmailed into signing the new contract.
Origin
1545-55; black + mail3
Related forms
blackmailer, noun
Examples from the web for blackmail
  • blackmail only seems to work until the money's gone.
  • There followed news of other such cases, and of incidents where wrestlers paid blackmail to yakuza to keep their sins quiet.
  • Elsewhere blackmail and bribery helped get more people out to vote.
  • And threatening his employer unless they yield to your pressure, is bullying and blackmail.
  • There are many other forms of invasion of privacy, such as blackmail and the improper use of your personal data.
  • Everyone seems to have the best of intentions here, but in the end this is blackmail.
  • Previously the world had run on trust, bribery, and subtle forms of blackmail.
  • We do not deny, intimidate, insult and blackmail to cover up the error.
  • Generally speaking, they're not interested in blackmail.
  • It involves a little bit of bribery and a lot of blackmail.
British Dictionary definitions for blackmail

blackmail

/ˈblækˌmeɪl/
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 (transitive)
3.
to exact or attempt to exact (money or anything of value) from (a person) by threats or intimidation; extort
4.
to attempt to influence the actions of (a person), esp by unfair pressure or threats
Derived Forms
blackmailer, noun
Word Origin
C16: see black, mail³
Word Origin and History for 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. Cf. silver mail "rent paid in money" (1590s); buttock-mail (Scottish, 1530s) "fine imposed for fornication."

v.

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