Definition of "blackamoor"
blackamoor
noun
plural blackamoors
(archaic, old heraldry, often offensive, ethnic slur) A person with dark black skin, especially one from north Africa.
Quotations
`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.'
1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887
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.
2002, Barbara Hewson, An English Bar Disciplinary Tribunal went over the top when dealing with a racial harassment case.
Gage noted the clothing of the slaves of the Spanish nobles, and silk was common to them. "The gentlemen have their train of blackamoor slaves, some a dozen, some half a dozen, waiting on them, in brave and gallant liveries, heavy with gold and silver lace, with silk stockings on their black legs, and roses on their feet, and swords by their sides."
1958, Maurice W. Connell, The Prophet Said Silk (), citing Thomas Gage's Travels in the New World, J. Eric S. Thompson (editor), page 73
A blackamoor slave, a blackamoor servant; and hence any slave, servant, inferior, or child.
Quotations
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.
1893, Annotation to The Diary of Samuel Pepys by "Mary", citing Restoration London, Liza Picard, pages 178-179.