The word was made during the Irish Land War . It comes from the name of Captain Charles Boycott . The word boycott entered the English language during the Irish `` Land War '' and is derived from the name of Captain Charles Boycott , the land agent of an absentee landlord , Lord Erne , who lived in Lough Mask House , in County Mayo , Ireland , who was subject to social ostracism organized by the Irish Land League in 1880 .