Here's a breakdown:
* Refusal: It's a deliberate act of not participating in any transactions or interactions.
* Protest: The boycott is done to express disapproval, dissatisfaction, or disagreement with something.
* Targets: The boycott can be directed at individuals, companies, governments, or even products.
Example:
* "The workers decided to boycott the company until their demands were met."
Origin:
The word "boycott" comes from the name of Captain Charles Boycott, an Irish land agent who was ostracized by his community in the 1880s due to his harsh treatment of tenants.