Origins of “Boycott”

The word “boycott” actually comes from a person’s name: Captain Charles Boycott. Charles Boycott was a British land agent in Ireland in the late 19th century, managing lands for an absentee landlord during a period of social and economic tensions. In 1880, during a campaign to seek fairer rent conditions, Irish tenant farmers refused to work for him. They isolated him socially and economically, denying him any services, workers, and interactions. Newspapers of the time began using his name to describe this form of protest and refusal to engage. Thus, the term “boycott” was born.

How “Boycott” Evolved

The term spread quickly, and “to boycott” became widely used to describe the act of collectively refusing to engage with or support a person, business, or institution. It now commonly describes a form of nonviolent protest where people withdraw their support to exert pressure for social or political change.

Example of Usage

• The community decided to boycott the store until it agreed to change its policies.

Fun Fact: Linguistic Spread

“Boycott” entered many other languages with the same meaning. It’s one of those English words that became international, underscoring how impactful social movements can influence language!