Contrabandage

/ˌkɒntrəˈbændɪdʒ/ noun

Definition

The action or practice of smuggling contraband; illegal trade or smuggling activities.

Etymology

From 'contraband' (goods banned or smuggled, from Spanish 'contrabando') plus '-age' (a suffix denoting action or practice), creating a noun describing the collective action of smuggling.

Kelly Says

The suffix '-age' (like in 'baggage,' 'passage,' 'storage') comes from Old French and creates abstract nouns—'contrabandage' follows this pattern perfectly but remains rarely used, with 'smuggling' being the preferred modern term.

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