• Contraband

    Pronunciation

    • US IPA: /ˈkÉ’n.tɹəˌbænd/

    Origin

    From Middle French contrebande.

    Noun

    contraband

    (usually uncountable; plural contrabands)
    1. (uncountable) any goods which are illicit or illegal to possess
    2. (uncountable) goods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods
    3. (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 2003, p. 497:While some Yanks treated contrabands with a degree of equity or benevolence, the more typical response was indifference, contempt, or cruelty.

    Full definition of contraband

    Adjective

    contraband

    1. 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."

    Verb

    1. (obsolete) To import illegally; to smuggle.
    2. (obsolete) To declare prohibited; to forbid.
      • HudibrasThe law severely contrabands
        Our taking business off men's hands.
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