graymail

English

Etymology

From gray + mail: in the threat sense, by analogy with blackmail.

Noun

graymail (uncountable)

1. (US, law) The threatened exposure of state secrets in order to manipulate legal proceedings.
2. (Internet) Email that is not technically spam (since the user agreed to receive it) but which is unwanted, such as newsletters after making a purchase.

Related terms

• see blackmail

Verb

graymail (third-person singular simple present graymails, present participle graymailing, simple past and past participle graymailed)

1. (US, law) To threaten exposure of state secrets in order to manipulate legal proceedings.