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English Dictionary: blackmail by the DICT Development Group
3 results for blackmail
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
blackmail
n
  1. extortion of money by threats to divulge discrediting information
v
  1. exert pressure on someone through threats [syn: blackmail, blackjack, pressure]
  2. obtain through threats
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Blackmail \Black"mail`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Blackmailed}; p.
      pr. & vb. n. {Blackmailing}.]
      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.]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Blackmail \Black"mail`\, n. [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) Black rent, or rent paid in corn, flesh, or the
            lowest coin, a opposed to [bd]white rent[b8], which paid
            in silver.
  
      {To levy blackmail}, to extort money by threats, as of injury
            to one's reputation.
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