WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Con"tra*band
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [It. contrabando; contra + bando ban, proclamation: cf. F. contrebande. See Ban an edict.]
Definition : 1. Illegal or prohobited 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Con"tra*band
Part of Speech : a.
Definition : Defn: Prohibited or excluded by law or treaty; forbidden; as, contraband goods, or trade. The contraband will always keep pace, in some measure, with the fair trade. Burke.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Con"tra*band
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : 1. To import illegaly, as prohibited goods; to smuggle. [Obs.] Johnson.

2. To declare prohibited; to forbid. [Obs.] The law severly contrabands Our taking business of men's hands. Hudibras.

t.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913