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Stage 1 of 3
contra bannum
Medieval Latin · medieval
"against the law"
literally "against the proclamation", i.e. against the law
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Stage 2 of 3
contrabbando
Italian · medieval
"illegal trade goods"
applied to goods illegally traded against royal decree
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Stage 3 of 3
contraband
English · 1500s-1600s
"goods imported or exported illegally"
adopted through Spanish and French from Italian
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