contraband English · revision 1585

13 Oct 2026, 05:37 by bogdan “New entry from dictionary sources” current version
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+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈkɒn.tɹəˌbænd/ ''(UK)''; /ˈkɑn.tɹəˌbænd/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|frm|contrebande]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|it|contrabbando|t=unlawful dealing]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''contra-'' “against” and ''bando'' “proclamation”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from [[la-med|bannum|t=decree]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) which is of Germanic origin.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is related to [[ban]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Smuggling; illegal or prohibited trade (before 1529).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The word meant “against the proclamation”.^(Etymonline) The sense of smuggled or prohibited goods appeared in 1599,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in international law ''contraband of war'' is goods that may not be supplied to a belligerent (1753).^(OED 1989)^(AHD) During the American Civil War the word was applied to escaped slaves who reached Union lines,^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) following a decision of General Butler.^(OED 1989) The adjective, “prohibited”, dates from 1656.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * before 1529 – smuggling.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)
+ * 1599 – smuggled goods.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)
+ * 1656 – adjective, prohibited.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)
+ * 1753 – ''contraband of war''.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1862 – an escaped slave, during the American Civil War.^(OED 1989)
+ 
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # Goods whose import, export or possession is forbidden by law; [[smuggled]] goods.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # Illegal trade in such goods; [[smuggling]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)
+ # Goods that a [[belligerent]] may seize if a neutral country ships them to the enemy.^(AHD)^(RHWU)
+ # ''(history)'' During the [[American Civil War]], an escaped slave who reached Union lines.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Forbidden to be imported or exported.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[contrabandage]]
+ * [[contrabandist]]
+ * [[contraband of war]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}