See Also: contraband(1)(dictionary)
contraband(2)(dictionary)
contraband(dictionary)
Contraband(law)

contraband(1) (iou)



contraband noun & adjective. L16.
[Spanish contrabanda from Italian contrabando (now -bb-), from contra- CONTRA- + bando: see BAN noun1.]
A. noun.
Illegal or prohibited trade; smuggling. L16.
Something whose import or export is prohibited; smuggled goods. L16.
In full contraband of war. Something forbidden to be supplied by neutrals to belligerents. M18.
During the American Civil War: a black slave, esp. a fugitive or captured slave. (From a decision of General Butler in 1861 that such slaves were contraband of war.) US. obsolete exc. Hist. M19.
b. adjective. Forbidden to be imported or exported; concerned with smuggled goods etc.; fig. forbidden, illegitimate, unauthorized. M17.
? Earlier Anglicized as COUNTERBAND.
contrabandist noun a smuggler E19.
contraban'dista noun [Spanish] a smuggler M19.