blacking

1. 1
   noununcountable

   A polish put on leather shoes to make them black and shiny.

   Like black paint made just for shoes.

   He rubbed blacking onto his boots until they shone.

   The blacking left dark marks on her fingers.

   Similarpolish

2. 2
   noununcountable

   A black paste made from soot, used to give metal a shiny dark coating.

   Like a black paint made for iron stoves.

   Dad put blacking on the old iron stove to make it shine.

   A little blacking covered the rust spots on the gate.

   Note
3. 3
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of black. Use this -ing form when the act of making something black is happening now.

   He is blacking his boots before the parade.

   She spent the morning blacking the kitchen stove.

   Note
4. 4
   noununcountable

   A refusal by workers to handle certain goods or do certain work as part of a dispute.

   Like a whole group saying together, "We won't touch this."

   The workers agreed to a blacking of all goods from the factory.

   The blacking lasted until the company met their demands.

   Similarboycott, ban, embargo

   Note

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