contraband
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English
Etymology
From Spanish contrabanda (modern spelling contrabando), from Italian contrabando (modern spelling contrabbando), from contra (“against”) + bando (“ban”), and reinforced by French contrebande.
Pronunciation
Noun
contraband (usually uncountable, plural contrabands)
- (uncountable) Any goods which are illicit or illegal to possess.
- (uncountable) Goods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods.
- (countable, US, historical) A black slave during the American Civil War who had escaped to, or been captured by, Union forces.
- 1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford, published 2003, page 497:
- While some Yanks treated contrabands with a degree of equity or benevolence, the more typical response was indifference, contempt, or cruelty.
Derived terms
Translations
goods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods
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Adjective
contraband (comparative more contraband, superlative most contraband)
- Prohibited from being traded.
- 1940, The Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America: Having ... – Division of the Federal Register, the National Archives – Page 2191
- " when the seizure is made in connection with a violation involving a contraband article covered by section 1 (b) (1) of the said Act; "
- 1953, United States, United States. President, United States. Congress – United States Code Congressional and Administrative News – Page 2039
- "The exclusion of mandatory payment of moieties for seizures of contraband controlled substances is accomplished through Section 17 of the bill, "
- 1899, Albert William Chaster, The Powers, Duties and Liabilities of Executive Officers as Between These ... – Stevens and Haynes – Page 55
- "4. Contraband goods may be seized if found in a river before they are landed or offered for sale."
- 1940, The Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America: Having ... – Division of the Federal Register, the National Archives – Page 2191
Verb
contraband (third-person singular simple present contrabands, present participle contrabanding, simple past and past participle contrabanded)
- (obsolete) To import illegally; to smuggle.
- 1615, George Sandys, “The Second Booke”, in The Relation of a Iourney Begun An: Dom: 1610. , London: [Richard Field] for W. Barrett, →OCLC, page 87:
- there are also searched for concealed Slaves, and goods contrabanded
- (obsolete) To declare prohibited; to forbid.
- 1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. , London: John Martyn and Henry Herringman, , published 1678; republished in A R Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC:
- The law severely contrabands / Our taking business off men's hands.
Translations
To import illegally
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