blackmail
(noun) extortion of money by threats to divulge discrediting information
blackmail
(verb) obtain through threats
blackmail, blackjack, pressure
(verb) exert pressure on someone through threats
Source: WordNet® 3.1
blackmail (uncountable)
The extortion of money by threats of public accusation, exposure, or censure.
(archaic) A form of protection money (or corn, cattle, etc.) anciently paid, in the north of England and south of Scotland, to the allies of robbers in order to be spared from pillage.
(English law, historical) Black rent, or rent paid in corn, meat, or the lowest coin, as opposed to white rent, which was paid in silver.
Compromising material that can be used to extort someone, dirt.
blackmail (third-person singular simple present blackmails, present participle blackmailing, simple past and past participle blackmailed)
(transitive) To extort money or favors from (a person) by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, such as injury to reputation, distress of mind, false accusation, etc.
(Kenya) To speak ill of someone; to defame someone.
Source: Wiktionary
Black"mail`, n. Etym: [Black + mail a piece of money.]
1. A certain rate of money, corn, cattle, or other thing, anciently paid, in the north of England and south of Scotland, to certain men who were allied to robbers, or moss troopers, to be by them protected from pillage. Sir W. Scott.
2. Payment of money exacted by means of intimidation; also, extortion of money from a person by threats of public accusation, exposure, or censure.
3. (Eng. Law)
Definition: Black rent, or rent paid in corn, flesh, or the lowest coin, a opposed to "white rent", which paid in silver. To levy blackmail, to extort money by threats, as of injury to one's reputation.
Black"mail`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackmailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blackmailing.]
Definition: To extort money from by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, as injury to reputation, distress of mind, etc.; as, to blackmail a merchant by threatening to expose an alleged fraud. [U. S.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
10 January 2025
(noun) the act of combining one thing at intervals among other things; “the interspersion of illustrations in the text”
Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.
