Here's how it happened:
* Landlord Troubles: In the 1880s, Ireland was experiencing a period of intense unrest due to high rents and difficult living conditions for tenant farmers.
* Boycott's Actions: Captain Boycott, working for Lord Erne, was known for his harsh treatment of tenants. He evicted those who couldn't pay rent and refused to negotiate.
* The Irish Response: In 1880, the local community, led by Charles Stewart Parnell and the Land League, organized a boycott of Boycott. They refused to do business with him, refusing to work his land, deliver mail, or even speak to him.
* The Boycott's Success: The boycott was remarkably successful. It put immense pressure on Boycott and eventually forced Lord Erne to relent.
* The Term "Boycott": The word "boycott" soon became a common term for any organized refusal to deal with a person or entity as a form of protest. It quickly spread throughout the English language and the rest of the world.
So, the word "boycott" is a testament to the power of collective action and the impact of one man's harsh treatment of others.