1550s, from black (adj.) + Middle English male "rent, tribute," from Old English mal "lawsuit, terms, bargaining, agreement," from Old Norse mal "speech, agreement;" related to Old English mæðel "meeting, council," mæl "speech," Gothic maþl "meeting place," from Proto-Germanic *mathla-, from PIE *mod- "to meet, assemble" (see meet (v.)). From the practice of freebooting clan chieftains who ran protection rackets against Scottish farmers. Black from the evil of the practice. Expanded c. 1826 to any type of extortion money. Compare silver mail "rent paid in money" (1590s); buttock-mail (Scottish, 1530s) "fine imposed for fornication."
blackmail (v.)
1852, from blackmail (n.). Related: Blackmailed; blackmailing.
双语例句
1. She was a prime target for blackmail, don't you see?
她是敲诈的主要目标。你难道看不出来吗？
来自柯林斯例句
2. The tactics employed can range from overt bullying to subtle emotional blackmail.
从公然威吓到微妙的情感胁迫，各种战术都用上了。
来自柯林斯例句
3. That was a terrible case of blackmail in the paper today.
今天报上登的那宗勒索案真可怕。
来自柯林斯例句
4. It looks like the pictures were being used for blackmail.