contraband

What it means

1. uncountableusuallyAny goods which are illicit or illegal to possess.
2. uncountableusuallyGoods which are prohibited from being traded, smuggled goods.
3. UScountablehistoricalusuallyA black slave during the American Civil War who had escaped to, or been captured by, Union forces.

   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, published 2003, page 497

In a sentence

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, published 2003, page 497

Where it comes from

1. Frenchcontrebande
2. Italiancontrabando
3. Spanishcontrabanda
4. Englishcontraband

From Spanish contrabanda (modern spelling contrabando), from Italian contrabando (modern spelling contrabbando), from contra (“against”) + bando (“ban”), and reinforced by French contrebande.