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Glite Dictionary
Blackshirt

Blackshirt

1 9.9
A member of Italy's Fascist party known for wearing a black shirt
  • noun
  • /ˈblækˌʃɜrt/
  • Archaic
: camisa negra
  • The next step was complete dictatorial control, a step which the Italian Blackshirt leader took without a second thought.

Examples

  • I don't belong to nobody no more!" From the shadows at the sides of the room, two more blackshirts rushed forward.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The Blackshirt symbolized loyalty to Mussolini's Fascist regime in Italy.

  • If he was a Blackshirt, would America have forgiven him?

    Blog text (1)

  • And she used to tell you that Blackshirts are only good for hiding dirt.

    Miracle at St. Anna (2008)

  • Two of the blackshirts went down in quick succession to shots from the emissary's pistol, then there was a crash against the entry door and armed men burst in.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Many Blackshirts marched through the streets, displaying their allegiance to the Fascist party.

  • During the 1920s, a Blackshirt could often be seen enforcing Fascist policies in Italy.

Synonyms

fascista
vsBlackshirt
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who belonged to Mussolini's ruling party in Italy

is a specific subgroup identified by a distinctive dark uniform before World War II

Surface Forms

Blackshirt singular
Blackshirts plural

Morphology

Blackshirt = black + shirt (semi-transparent) = black + shirt

Composed of the clear words 'black' + 'shirt', but the specialized political meaning ('member of the Fascist movement') is historical and not directly inferable from the components by an average learner.

Etymology

The word Blackshirt comes from the black shirts Mussolini's Italian supporters wore as a uniform. The name is literally black + shirt, so a Blackshirt means a member of that Fascist group.