What is the origin of the word boycott?

Answer 1

Boycott is a word that originally came from Captain Charles Boycott. He was a land agent and when his tenants suffered form a poor harvest he reduced the rent. The tenants demanded a bigger reduction and he refused and then tried to evict them. However, a local proposal stated that if this happened then those taking over the farms should shun them. However, this was applied to Boycott and he was isolated and no one would work for him or trade with him. In 1880 the term Boycott was first used the The Times newspaper referring to organized isolation.

Answer 2

It derives from the name of Capt. Charles Boycott, an absentee landlord during the so called Irish Land Wars in the 1880s.
After his tenants asked for a rent reduction he not only refused he also evicted them from the lands. Charles Parnell argued that instead of violence people should refuse to do any kind of business with him, which became a kind of social ostracism.
Today it usually means to not deal with, or buy goods from, a person or company because of their business practices.