Banishment or being shunned. The state of being exiled from any society, usually by popular vote, for any reason. Disgrace and idiocy are often key players.
Ostracism has its roots in Ancient Athena as a form of quick justice.
After accidentlylighting the Orator's chariot on fire, Idious Maximus knew what was comming... Ostracism.
verb. When playing pick-up football games on the weekends, the act of a defense player hitting and offensive player low and the offensive player flipping forward and landing headfirst in the dirt. The act is similar to an ostrich putting his head into the ground.
After talking smack throughout the whole game, he returned the kickoff and and ran straight at the target of his words, only to be ostricized and receive a face full of dirt, embarrassing him in front of his peers.
What happens to old men when they inevitibly develop "long balls". Their nutsack looks like an upside-down ostrich head as viewed from behind.
When I saw grandpa's drooping ballsack hanging out of his bermuda shorts,I asked him what was wrong with him,he said; "Son,when you turn 70 you automatically become ostracized."