Also 7 imbargo. See also EMBARGE. [a. Sp. embargo, n. of action f. embargar to arrest, impede, repr. a late L. type *imbarricāre, f. in- (see IN-) + barra BAR. (Florio has imbargo as Italian.)]
1. A prohibitory order, forbidding the ships of a foreign power to enter or leave the ports of a country, or native ships to proceed thither, generally issued in anticipation of war. An embargo may also be laid on particular branches of commerce, for fiscal purposes.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 19 b. Had not the Imbargo with Spaine … foreclosed this trade.
1758. J. Blake, Plan Mar. Syst., 33. An embargo … is daily expected.
1808. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 111. The embargo appears to be approved.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), II. x. 71. The embargo was intended to injure the obedient Provinces and their Sovereign.
2. A suspension of commerce, either general or of some particular branch, imposed by municipal law. Also in phrases: To be under, to lay (on), to take off an embargo.
1658–9. in Burton, Diary (1828), IV. 235. And lay an embargo of all … ships in the river of Thames.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1754), 250. Trade was, as it were, under a general Embargo, or at a full stop.
1803. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., I. 398. In order that they may take off the embargo.
1861. May, Const. Hist. (1863), II. xvi. 522. An embargo on the export of provisions.
1868. Rogers, Pol. Econ., xxiii. (1876), 318. Unless it place an embargo on the exportation of capital.
3. transf. and fig. A stoppage, prohibition, impediment.
1692. E. Walker, trans. Epictetus’ Mor., xiii. 16.
| You on your Feet may an embargo lay, | |
| As well as chance or natural decay. |
1691–8. Norris, Pract. Disc., IV. 8. As if Religion had a kind of Imbargo laid upon it.
1824. Miss Ferrier, Inher., xxxvii. G. complied with this embargo.
1866. Trollope, Belton Est., II. ii. 31. Fear that she might be an embargo on his prosperity.
