arrière-ban

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

noun

, plural ar·ri·ère-bans [ar, -ee-er-, banz, a, -, r, ye, r, -, bahn].

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

arrière-ban

/ arjɛrbɑ̃ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrière-ban¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from French, alteration (by association with arrière “behind, rear”) of Old French arban, herban, from Germanic; compare Old High German hari “army,” ban “proclamation”; arrears, ban ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrière-ban¹

C16: changed from Old French herban call to arms, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German heriban, from heri army + ban summons, ban ²