| The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. |
| |
| blackball |
| |
| |
| A rejection of an applicant’s membership in a private organization, such as a club or fraternity. The term is derived from the traditional practice of members voting anonymously on admitting new members, using either a white marble (acceptance) or a black marble (denial). Acceptance must be unanimous; therefore, one black marble in the ballot box is enough to keep the applicant out of the organization. | 1 |
| ‡ The term is now applied generally to efforts—especially unreasonable or vengeful actions—to keep a people or groups out of organizations they wish to join. | 2 |
| |
| | | The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
|
|
