contraband
/ˈkɒn.tɹəˌbænd/
contraband · adj — prohibited from being traded. It carries an Arena rating of 1536, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, contraband ranks #375 of 42,862 for Qualifying, #605 of 17,136 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #1,889 of 17,144 for Most Malleable Words, #3,311 of 17,152 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
contraband is pronounced /ˈkɒn.tɹəˌbænd/.
Why “contraband” is a great word
Goods or items whose importation or exportation is legally forbidden. From Italian *contrabbando* (modern spelling), from *contra* ("against") + *bando* ("ban, proclamation"), reinforced by French *contrebande* and Spanish *contrabando*, first recorded in English 1520–30. Unlike "smuggled" (which describes the clandestine act of conveyance) or "bootleg" (which connotes illicit production and replication), "contraband" names the intrinsic category of the prohibited thing itself. It is the weight of uncut jewels in a diplomat’s valise, the chemical scent of a rare orchid pressed between pages, and the silent, desperate presence in the hold of a ship running a blockade. The word carries the precise weight of borders made manifest: the customs house at dawn, the dog sniffing luggage, the moment possession becomes transgression.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From Spanish contrabanda (modern spelling contrabando), from Italian contrabando (modern spelling contrabbando), from contra (“against”) + bando (“ban”), and reinforced by French contrebande.
adj
- Prohibited from being traded.e.g.“… when the seizure is made in connection with a violation involving a contraband article covered by section 1 (b) (1) of the said Act; …” — 1940, The Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America: Having ... – Division of the Federal Register, the National Archives – Page 2191
noun
- Any goods which are illicit or illegal to possess.
- Goods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods.
- A black slave during the American Civil War who had escaped to, or been captured by, Union forces.e.g.“While some Yanks treated contrabands with a degree of equity or benevolence, the more typical response was indifference, contempt, or cruelty.” — 1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford, published 2003, page 497:
verb
- To import illegally; to smuggle.e.g.“there are also searched for concealed Slaves, and goods contrabanded” — 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:
- To declare prohibited; to forbid.e.g.“The law severely contrabands / Our taking business off men's hands.” — 1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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