Also 6 arere-, rere-band, 7 arrear-band, arrière-van, 7–8 arrier-ban. [a. F. arrière-ban, OF. ariere-ban (12th c.), for *ari-ban, hari-ban, f. OHG. hari, heri, army, host + ban edict, proclamation, order under penalty; in Merov. Lat. hari-, heri-, here-bannum, elsewhere also ari-, are-bannum: see Du Cange. The first element was early perverted by pop. etymol. to ariere, arrière, and the word variously misunderstood in accordance with this (see Cotgr., 1611), the prevailing fancy being that it meant the summoning of the arrière-vassals, or holders of arrière-fiefs, as distinct from the great feudatories supposed to be summoned by the ban. Hence the later use of ban et arrière-ban in conjunction. In English further perverted to arrear-band, rear-band, and arrear-van.]
Properly, The order of a (Frankish or French) king summoning his vassals to the military service due by holders of fiefs; the whole body of vassals thus summoned or liable to be summoned; the whole body of tenants by military tenure; the noblesse. Also applied to similar bodies, e.g., that of Poland. Corruptly: see above.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccccxviii. 732. He hadde with hym out of the towne a ten thousande men in harnes for the arerebande [Fr. dix mille hommes pour l’arrière-ban]. Ibid., ccccxvi. 727. I wyle go to Gaunt, to fetche ye rerebande [l’arrière-ban].
1591. Unton, Corr. (1847), 54. He hath sente abroade to assemble his van and arriere van.
1671. Crowne, Juliana, I. 8. The Ban and the Arrierban are met arm’d in the field to choose a king [of Poland].
1684. Scanderbeg Rediv., iv. 70. The King having summoned the Arrier Ban (that is, a General Convention of all the Nobless throughout his Dominions) to appear in their Arms.
1690. Luttrell, Brief Rel., II. 106. The arrear-band is raised all along the coasts.
1748. Thomson, Cast. Indol., II. xxx. Thus Vice the standard rear’d; her arrier-ban Corruption called.
1858. Morris, Def. Guenevere, etc., 167.
| When the arriere-ban goes through the land, | |
| Six basnets under my pennon stand. |
1864. Kirk, Chas. Bold, I. vi. 283. Coming with ban and arrière ban to his sovereign’s relief.
