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A.Word.A.Day--blackball

blackball (BLAK-bawl) verb tr.

1. To vote against, especially to prevent someone from joining a club or a group.

2. To ostracize or boycott.

noun

A negative vote.

[From black + ball. From the former practice of depositing a white ball or a black ball as a ballot to vote for or against a candidate.]

"But Mohammad Reza Khatami - who was deputy parliament speaker and among more than 2,400 candidates blackballed from Friday's elections - warned against public demonstrations to demand change, saying Iranians have no appetite for another revolution."
Brian Murphy; Khatami: Iran Doesn't Want Revolution; Kansas City Star (Missouri); Feb 18, 2004.

"(Fernando) Ricksen's ban kicks in immediately, blackballing him from Rangers' next two matches against Dundee and Dunfermline."
Keith Jackson; Football: Fernan-doh; Daily Record (Glasgow, UK); Mar 17, 2004.

This week's theme: words related to elections.

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