\Con"tra*band\, n. [It. contrabando; contra + bando
ban, proclamation: cf. F. contrebande. See {Ban} an edict.]
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\, a.
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.

\Con"tra*band\, v. t.
1. To import illegally, 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.