blackball

== English == === Etymology === This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term. From black +‎ ball. === Pronunciation === enPR: blăk'bôl', (UK) IPA(key): /ˈblækbɔːl/ (US, cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /ˈblækbɑl/ === Noun === blackball (countable and uncountable, plural blackballs) (countable) A rejection; a vote against admitting someone. (countable) A black ball used to indicate such a negative vote. (countable) A kind of large black sweet, a black-colored gobstopper. Synonym: (dated, offensive) niggerball A substance for blacking shoes, boots, etc. or for taking impressions of engraved work. (uncountable) A game, a standardized version of the English version of eight-ball. Synonym: reds and yellows === Verb === blackball (third-person singular simple present blackballs, present participle blackballing, simple past and past participle blackballed) (transitive) To vote against, especially in an exclusive organization. (transitive) To ostracize. Synonyms: blacklist, send to Coventry; see also Thesaurus:ignore, Thesaurus:boycott ==== Derived terms ====