E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Black-balled.
Not admitted to a club; the candidate proposed is not accepted as a member. In voting by ballot, those who accept the person proposed drop a white or red ball into the box, but those who would exclude the candidate drop into it a black one. It is now more usually done by two compartments, for “yes” and “no” respectively.
