Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Contraband
Con′tra-band
,Noun.
1.
Illegal or prohibited traffic.
Persons the most bound in duty to prevent
contraband
, and the most interested in the seizures. Burke.
2.
Goods or merchandise the importation or exportation of which is forbidden.
3.
A negro slave, during the Civil War, escaped to, or was brought within, the Union lines. Such slave was considered contraband of war.
[U.S.]
Contraband of war
, that which, according to international law, cannot be supplied to a hostile belligerent except at the risk of seizure and condemnation by the aggrieved belligerent.
Wharton.
Con′tra-band
,Adj.
Prohibited or excluded by law or treaty; forbidden;
as,
. contraband
goods, or tradeThe
contraband
will always keep pace, in some measure, with the fair trade. Burke.
Con′tra-band
,Verb.
T.
1.
To import illegally, as prohibited goods; to smuggle.
[Obs.]
Johnson.
2.
To declare prohibited; to forbid.
[Obs.]
The law severly
Our taking business of men’s hands.
contrabands
Our taking business of men’s hands.
Hudibras.
Webster 1828 Edition
Contraband
CONTRABAND
,Adj.
CONTRABAND
,Noun.
1.
Prohibition of trading in goods, contrary to the laws of a state or of nations.2.
Illegal traffick.Definition 2024
contraband
contraband
English
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 2003, p. 497:
- 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 2003, p. 497:
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.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Johnson to this entry?)
- (obsolete) To declare prohibited; to forbid.
- Hudibras
- The law severely contrabands / Our taking business off men's hands.
- Hudibras
Translations
To import illegally
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