blackamoor

noun

1. (archaic, offensive)A person with dark black skin, especially one from north Africa.

   “Argent, three blackamoors’ heads couped sable, capped or, fretty gules.”

   “`Well, Job,' I said, `perhaps it would be as well. There are lots of blankets there, only be careful to keep out of the moon, or it may turn your head or blind you.' `Lord, sir! I don't think it would much matter if it did; it is that turned already with the sight of these blackamoors and their filthy, thieving ways.'”

   “Go venture shipwreck on the sullen coasts Where blackamoors make captive Christian men ...”

   “"What!" exclaimed the Prince, "the music is by the blackamoor (a black Moor). Well, my fine blackamoor, henceforth thou art in my service."”

   “What had Pringle done to merit such a severe penalty? He had said to Adusei during a criminal trial, "How's the blackamoor?". The Tribunal found that this was offensive, which clearly it was, and constituted an act of racial discrimination.”

2. (offensive)A black slave or servant, and hence any slave, servant, inferior, or child.

   “1893, Annotation to The Diary of Samuel Pepys by "Mary", http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1660/08/10/index.php citing Restoration London, Liza Picard, pages 178-179. In 1596 Elizabeth I had already decreed that all "blackamoors" should be sent back to Spain or Portugal as they were disturbing local labour markets. It became very fashionable for the wealthy to have "blackamoor" page boys and personal servants, as their complexions set off the pale-skinned beauty of the women of the family.”

   “She seems to have been a serious girl, but she remembered her father's characterization of her as his "Little blackamoor."”

3. (alt-of, archaic, obsolete, offensive)Alternative letter-case form of blackamoor.

   “highly discontented to understand the great numbers of negars and Blackamoors which (as she is informed) are crept into this realm... who are fostered and relieved [i.e. fed] her to the great annoyance of her own liege people, that want the relief [i.e. food], which those people consume, as also for that the most of them are infidels, having no understanding of Christ or his Gospel.”

   “[…] Mrs. Milford broke the thread of his soliloquy by desiring he would not talk about nasty Blackamoors any more, for she should dream of them at her bed-side.”

   “"Although, as we now realize, no Blackamoor at any 18th century European court was merely decorative, in Ibrahim's case, Peter's expectations for him were as loaded with responsibility as those he would have had for his own son."”

name

1. A village in Blackburn with Darwen borough, Lancashire, England (OS grid ref SD6925).