ban

‖n. A kind of fine muslin, made in the East Indies from the fiber of the banana leaf stalks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. bann command, edict; akin to D. ban, Icel. bann, Dan. band, OHG. ban, G. bann, a public proclamation, as of interdiction or excommunication, Gr. fa`nai to say, L. fari to speak, Skr. bhan to speak; cf. F. ban, LL. bannum, of G. origin. √86. Cf. Abandon, Fame. ] 1. A public proclamation or edict; a public order or notice, mandatory or prohibitory; a summons by public proclamation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Feudal & Mil.) A calling together of the king's (esp. the French king's) vassals for military service; also, the body of vassals thus assembled or summoned. In present usage, in France and Prussia, the most effective part of the population liable to military duty and not in the standing army. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in church. See Banns (the common spelling in this sense). [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An interdiction, prohibition, or proscription. “Under ban to touch.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A curse or anathema. “Hecate's ban.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A pecuniary mulct or penalty laid upon a delinquent for offending against a ban; as, a mulct paid to a bishop by one guilty of sacrilege or other crimes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ban of the empire (German Hist.), an imperial interdict by which political rights and privileges, as those of a prince, city, or district, were taken away. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Serv. ban; cf. Russ. & Pol. pan a master, lord, Per. ban. ] An ancient title of the warden of the eastern marches of Hungary; now, a title of the viceroy of Croatia and Slavonia. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To curse; to swear. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F., fr. ban an ordinance. ] Commonplace; trivial; hackneyed; trite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Banalities [ F. banalité. See Banal. ] Something commonplace, hackneyed, or trivial; the commonplace, in speech. [ 1913 Webster ]

The highest things were thus brought down to the banalities of discourse. J. Morley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp. banana, name of the fruit. ] (Bot.) A perennial herbaceous plant of almost treelike size (Musa sapientum); also, its edible fruit. See Musa. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The banana has a soft, herbaceous stalk, with leaves of great length and breadth. The flowers grow in bunches, covered with a sheath of a green or purple color; the fruit is five or six inches long, and over an inch in diameter; the pulp is soft, and of a luscious taste, and is eaten either raw or cooked. This plant is a native of tropical countries, and furnishes an important article of food. [ 1913 Webster ]

Banana bird (Zool.), a small American bird (Icterus leucopteryx), which feeds on the banana. --
Banana quit (Zool.), a small bird of tropical America, of the genus Certhiola, allied to the creepers. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A solution used as a vehicle in applying bronze pigments. In addition to acetote, benzine, and a little pyroxylin, it contains amyl acetate, which gives it the odor of bananas. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]