▪ I. racketeer, n. orig. U.S.
(rækɪˈtɪə(r))
[f. racket n.3 + -eer.]
A member of a gang or association of criminals practising extortion, intimidation, violence, and other illegal acts on a large scale; any person making easy money by such means. Also transf., one who achieves an easy result by illegitimate means.
| 1928 Time 9 July 14 In the old days it was a mark of distinction to be seen at gangster funerals, but during the Loesch prosecutions, probably not even U.S. Senator Deneen of Illinois would care to be seen near the bier of a ‘racketeer’. 1928 Daily Express 14 Sept. 1/4 ‘Racketeers’..now control 150 lines of business in Chicago, and collect an enormous tribute for immunity from their violence. 1929 Sun (Baltimore) 15 Nov. 1/6 ‘Spike’ along with six police captains and a dozen politicians and racketeers, is accused of participation in the profits of gambling machines placed in speak⁓easies. 1931 Times 24 Sept. 11/2 The campaign against gangsters and ‘racketeers’ in New York City has resulted today in the arrest of..one of the most powerful ‘labour racketeers’ in the city. 1935 J. T. Farrell Judgment Day iv. 76 We got to get a strong man in the White House..to kick out the bankers and grafting politicians and racketeers. 1939 Scrutiny VII. 439 The older generation of middlebrow propagandists, whom Scrutiny used to refer to as literary racketeers. 1948 Sunday Pictorial 18 July 7/1 The public are completely at the mercy of these racketeers. 1956 ‘C. Blackstock’ Dewey Death iii. 52 You romantic writers are as much a menace to the community as drug racketeers. 1967 Wall Street Jrnl. 24 Apr. 32/2 Rosenberg, according to Illinois authorities, was secretly associated with..an important Chicago racketeer. 1978 Cornish Guardian 27 Apr. 3/1 Metrication will be an open invitation for every spiv and racketeer to cheat the British public. |
▪ II. racketeer, v. U.S.
(rækɪˈtɪə(r))
[f. the n.]
a. trans. To subject to racketeering. b. intr. To engage in fraudulent business.
| 1928 Time 30 Jan. 11/2 In 36 years in Chicago I have never been held up, robbed, or racketeered. 1933 G. B. Shaw Polit. Madhouse in Amer. 56 What is the use of paying you money to racketeer with? 1934 Words Nov. 5/2 To press-agent,..to service,..to gesture, to racketeer..are new, and most of them are obviously American. |