definitions

arrière-ban

[ ar-ee-er-ban; French a ryer-bahn ]
/ ˈær iˌɛrˈbæn; French a ryɛrˈbɑ̃ /

noun, plural ar·ri·ère-bans [ar-ee-er-banz; French a ryer-bahn] /ˈær iˌɛrˈbænz; French a ryɛrˈbɑ̃/.

a group of vassals who owed military service, especially to French kings.
the summoning by a medieval ruler of all vassals and free men for military service.

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Nearby words

arrivederci, arrivism, arrivisme, arriviste, arrivé, arrière-ban, arrière-garde, arrière-pensée, arroba, arrogance, arrogance of power

Origin of arrière-ban

1515–25; < French, alteration (by association with arrière behind, rear; see arrear) of Old French arban, herban < Germanic; compare Old High German hari army, ban ban2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for arriere-ban

arrière-ban

/ French (arjɛrbɑ̃) /

noun

(in medieval France) a summons to the king's vassals to do military service
the vassals so assembled for military service

Word Origin for arrière-ban

C16: changed from Old French herban call to arms, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German heriban, from heri army + ban summons, ban ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012