bannus

Forms

bannus m (genitive bannī); second declension^[1] A neuter ⟨bannum⟩ is common beside it, and the spellings ⟨pannus⟩, ⟨bandus⟩, ⟨bagnus⟩, ⟨bamnus⟩ and ⟨bampnus⟩ occur; ⟨bandus⟩ is frequent in Italy.^[1][2][3][4]

Etymology

It is a Germanic word,^[2] borrowed from Frankish *bannan (“to summon, proclaim”).^[1] The MLW compares Old High German ban.^[3] Etymonline traces the Germanic noun to Proto-Germanic *bannaz, from *bannan (“to speak publicly”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It appears first in Gregory of Tours' History of the Franks, where King Chilperic orders bannī, fines, to be exacted from the poor and the junior clergy of the churches;^[6][4] Wiktionary gives the sense “prohibition” there and notes that the word became common from the late 8th century.^[1]

Semantic evolution

In Frankish law it was the solemn order of the public authority, commanding or forbidding under a fixed penalty;^[2][3] the capitularies fine Franks who break the king's ban sixty shillings.^[3] It was the summons to the army or to an oath, to a court session or before a judge,^[2][3] and the general rules of criminal law whose breach offended the public authority.^[2] From the order it passed to the authority itself, to high justice, to the fine for an offence against it,^[2][1] and to the district of a judge who held a delegated ban.^[2][1] It was also the proclamation of the king's peace or of the peace of a court, the protection of a place, a judicial guarantee of possession,^[2][3] the regalian right of markets and the dues paid on trade, and the authority over forests, hunting and fishing.^[2][3] In the church it named excommunication and the interdict.^[1][3]

English ban “proclamation” comes from Old English and Old French words from the same Germanic source.^[5]

Timeline

• 538/539–594 AD – Gregory of Tours uses it of fines exacted by King Chilperic.^[6][4]
• late 8th century – It becomes common in Frankish documents.^[1]
• c. 1300 – English ban “proclamation of an overlord” appears.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A solemn order of the public authority, commanding or forbidding under a fixed penalty; an edict.^[2][3][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) A summons: to the army, to an oath, to court.^[2][3][1]
3. (Medieval Latin) A fine for an offence against the public authority; confiscation.^[2][1][6]
4. (Medieval Latin) The public authority; jurisdiction, especially high justice; a right or privilege.^[2][3][1]
5. (Medieval Latin) The district of a judge or lord; the precinct of an abbey.^[2][1]
6. (Medieval Latin) A proclamation of the king's peace or the peace of a court; protection.^[2][3][1]
7. (Medieval Latin) The right to hold markets; dues on trade; authority over forests, hunting and fishing.^[2][3]
8. (Medieval Latin) Banishment, outlawry;^[1][3][4] (Ecclesiastical Latin) excommunication, interdict.^[1][3][4]

Word family

• bannālia
• bannālis
• bannārius
• bannileuga
• banniō
• bannizō
• burgibannus
• exbanniō

Related words

• English ban

Usage notes

It is often confused with bandum “banner”, a different Germanic word, which can be spelled ⟨bannum⟩.^[2][3][7]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press