Blackmail
English Meaning
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.
- Extortion of money or something else of value from a person by the threat of exposing a criminal act or discreditable information.
- Something of value extorted in this manner.
- Tribute formerly paid to freebooters along the Scottish border for protection from pillage.