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contraband definition

con·tra·band (kän′trə band′)

noun

  1. unlawful or prohibited trade
  2. goods forbidden by law to be imported or exported; smuggled merchandise
  3. contraband of war
  4. ☆ during the Civil War, a black slave who fled to, or was smuggled or found behind, the Union lines

Etymology: Sp contrabanda, a smuggling < It contrabando < contra-, against + bando < ML bannum < Frank *ban, a command; akin to OE ban: see ban

adjective

forbidden by law to be imported or exported

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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