also black-list, black list, "list of persons who have incurred suspicion," 1610s, from black, adj., here indicative of disgrace, censure, punishment (attested from 1590s, in black book) + list, n.. Specifically of employers' list of workers considered troublesome (usually for union activity) is from 1888. As a verb, from 1718. Related: Blacklisted; blacklisting.