contraband

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“
"Yes, I know it; but a contraband is a free man, and I heartily congratulate you."

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Definitions (19)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (6)

  1. noun Goods prohibited by law or treaty from being imported or exported.
  2. noun Illegal traffic in contraband; smuggling.
  3. noun Smuggled goods.
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Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (8)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (3)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (2)

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Examples (50)

  • Some of us think the contraband is these new data-sharing powers. —  The Independent - Frontpage RSS Feed
  • Cracking down on such contraband, which is usually cheaper than legally sourced woods, would level the playing field for Canadian timber in the EU market, Casey said. —  ICTSD
  • But searching for other contraband is well established as not. —  Brad Ideas - Comments
  • Although they found no drugs or other contraband, the police seized $6,037 that Boatright said the family was carrying to purchase a used car-and then threatened to turn their children, ages 10 and 1, over to Child Protective Services if the couple didn't agree to sign over their right to their cash. —  chicagotribune.com -
  • He did not have a warrant out for his arrest and was not carrying any contraband, according to investigators. —  Latest Activity on African American Opinion - Social and Political Networking
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This word has been looked up 105 times.

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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Italian contrabbando : contra-, against (from Latin contrā-; see contra-) + bando, legal proclamation (from Late Latin bannus, of Germanic origin; see bhā-2 in Indo-European roots).

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. = Dutch contrabande = G. contraband, contreband = Danish kontraband = French contrebande, from Italian contrabbando = Spanish Portuguese contrabando (Middle Latin contrabannum), prop, contrary to proclamation, from Latin contra, against, + Middle Latin bandum, bannum, a proclamation, ban: see ban, n..
  2. from contraband, a.
 

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/ˈkɑntrəbænd/
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