1. To forbid (a vessel) to leave or enter a port; to lay (vessels, trade) under an embargo.
1755. Magens, Insurances, II. 31. They may be arrested or embargoed.
1851. Carlyle, Sterling, I. x. (1872), 64. Ship seized and embargoed in the King’s name.
1886. Sat. Rev., 22 May, 697/2. To have your ships embargoed.
b. fig. To prohibit.
1824. Byron, Juan, XV. 310. When Rapp the Harmonists embargoed marriage.
2. To seize, ‘requisition’ (ships or other means of transport, goods) for the service of the state.
1755. Magens, Insurances, I. 68. If a Ship be embargo’d for the Service of the Potentate in whose Port she is.
1810. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., VI. 529. They must embargo means of transport.
1879. Dowden, Southey, iii. 48. Every carriage … being embargoed for the royal service.
3. To seize, impound, confiscate.
1650. R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low-C. Warres, VI. 34. Merchants … weere clapt up prisoners, and their Goods … imbargoed.
1798. Southey, Lett. (1856), I. 50. I embargoed the likeness for you.
