blackbirding
[ blak-bur-ding ]
/ ˈblækˌbɜr dɪŋ /
noun
(formerly) the act or practice of kidnapping persons, especially Kanakas, and selling them abroad as slaves.
Words nearby blackbirding
Definition for blackbirding (2 of 2)
blackbird
[ blak-burd ]
/ ˈblækˌbɜrd /
noun
a common European thrush, Turdus merula, the male of which is black with a yellow bill.
any of several American birds of the family Icteridae, having black plumage.
Compare crow blackbird, red-winged blackbird, rusty blackbird.
any of several other unrelated birds having black plumage in either or both sexes.
(formerly) a person, especially a Kanaka, who was kidnapped and sold abroad, usually in Australia, as a slave.
verb (used with object)
to kidnap (a person), as in blackbirding.
verb (used without object)
to engage in blackbirding.
Example sentences from the Web for blackbirding
British Dictionary definitions for blackbirding
blackbird
/ (ˈblækˌbɜːd) /
noun
a common European thrush, Turdus merula, in which the male has a black plumage and yellow bill and the female is brown
any of various American orioles having a dark plumage, esp any of the genus Agelaius
history
a person, esp a South Sea Islander, who was kidnapped and sold as a slave, esp in Australia
verb
(tr)
(formerly) to kidnap and sell into slavery