arrière-ban

[ar-ee-er-ban; French a ryer-bahn]

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.

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. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for arriere-ban

arrière-ban

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

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