Boycotting

Boycotting, the system of combining to hold no relations, social or commercial, with a neighbour, in order to punish him for differences in political opinion—a kind of social excommunication. It was first formulated by Mr Parnell, the Irish leader, at Ennis on 19th September 1880, and derived its name from one of the first victims, Captain Boycott, a Mayo factor and farmer, who has had for his sufferings the consolation of giving a new word to most European languages. The term 'exclusive dealing' has been applied by its apologists to boycotting, which was brought within the law by the Crimes Act of 1887.