blackmail etymology

Etymology:

  • The word "blackmail" is derived from the Middle English phrase "blake male," which literally means "black rent."

Meaning:

  • Blackmail is the extortion of money or other valuables from a person or business through threats or intimidation. It is a form of coercion or extortion.

Origin:

The term "black rent" originally referred to the payments demanded by raiders or outlaws in the Scottish Highlands and Border areas during the 13th and 14th centuries. These payments were made to protect property and livestock from theft or damage.

Over time, the term "blackmail" came to be used more generally to refer to any form of extortion or coercion. It was first used in its current sense in the 16th century.

In the United States, blackmail is a federal crime under the Hobbs Act of 1946, which prohibits extortion that affects interstate commerce.

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