Ar*riere"-ban` (?), n. [F., fr. OE.
arban, heriban, fr. OHG. hariban, heriban, G.
heerbann, the calling together of an army; OHG. heri an army
+ ban a public call or order. The French have misunderstood their
old word, and have changed it into arrière-ban, though
arrière has no connection with its proper meaning. See
Ban, Abandon.] A proclamation, as of the French kings,
calling not only their immediate feudatories, but the vassals of these
feudatories, to take the field for war; also, the body of vassals called or
liable to be called to arms, as in ancient France.