contraband 復習

The film, labelled China’s Dallas Buyers Club by some, has also been hailed for its social realism and portrayal of Chinese society in all its contradictions. It features protests and clashes between ordinary citizens and law enforcement. Other characters include a pole dancer whose daughter is sick and a priest who hawks the contraband in his church.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/19/cancer-drug-film-prompts-china-speed-price-cuts

今回気になったのはcontraband /kάntrəb`ænd/ です。『ジーニアス英和辞典』を引くと「密輸，密売買、不法取引」「（南北戦争中）北軍へ逃げた黒人奴隷」とあります。上記は薬の話なので1番目の意味で用いられています。またLDOCEでは“goods that are brought into a country illegally, especially to avoid tax”と定義されていました。語源はcontra「反対」+bannum (official order)「命令，宣言」からきています。(Kiwi girl)