Ban

n. [Probably a contraction of bamboozle.] An imposition; a cheat. [Vulgar.] Garrick.

To relieve the tedium, he kept plying them with all manner of bams. Prof. Wilson.

[Fr. & Pr. ban, It., Sp., & Pg. bando, L. Lat. bannus, bannum, bandum, O. H. Ger. ban, N. H. Ger. bann, a public proclamation, as of interdiction or excommunication. Cf. ABANDON.]

1Sense 1. A public proclamation or edict; a public order or notice, mandatory or prohibitory.

2Sense 2. (pl.) Notice of a marriage proposed, or of a matrimonial contract, proclaimed in a church, or other place prescribed by law, that any person may object, if he knows of any kindred between the parties, of any pre-contract, or other just cause why the marriage should not take place.

3Sense 3. An interdiction, prohibition, or prescription. “Under ban to touch.” Milton.

4Sense 4. A curse or anathema. “Hecate’s ban.” Shak.

5Sense 5. A pecuniary mulct or penalty laid upon a delinquent for offending against a ban; or a mulct paid to the bishop by one guilty of sacrilege and other crimes.

6Sense 6. (Mil.) A proclamation by beat of drum, or sound of trumpet, requiring a strict observance of discipline, either for declaring a new officer, or for punishing an offender.

[Serb. ban, Russ. & Pol. pan, a master, lord.] An ancient title belonging to the wardens of the eastern marches of Hungary; now given to the viceroy of Croatia. He is appointed by the emperor of Austria. The Pitter-Ban of Hungary Came back renowned in arms. Campbell.

v. t. [A.-S. bannan, abannan, to proclaim, command, Dan. bande, forbande, to curse, Sw. banna, to revile, bannas, to curse. See BAN, n.] To curse; to execrate.

Banning his boisterous and unruly beast. Shak.

v. i. To curse. [Obs.] Spenser.