In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
BLOCKADE
blockade, encirclement
(noun) a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy
blockade
(noun) prevents access or progress
blockade, seal off
(verb) impose a blockade on
blockade, block off
(verb) obstruct access to
barricade, block, blockade, stop, block off, block up, bar
(verb) render unsuitable for passage; “block the way”; “barricade the streets”; “stop the busy road”
obstruct, blockade, block, hinder, stymie, stymy, embarrass
(verb) hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of; “His brother blocked him at every turn”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
blockade (plural blockades)
The physical blocking or surrounding of a place, especially a port, in order to prevent commerce and traffic in or out.
(by extension) Any form of formal isolation of something, especially with the force of law or arms.
(nautical) The ships or other forces used to effect a naval blockade.
(chess) Preventing an opponent's pawn moving by placing a piece in front of it
Verb
blockade (third-person singular simple present blockades, present participle blockading, simple past and past participle blockaded)
(transitive) To create a blockade against.
Anagrams
• dockable
Source: Wiktionary
Block*ade", n. Etym: [Cf. It. bloccata. See Block, v. t. ]
1. The shutting up of a place by troops or ships, with the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or the reception of supplies; as, the blockade of the ports of an enemy.
Note: Blockade is now usually applied to an investment with ships or vessels, while siege is used of an investment by land forces. To constitute a blockade, the investing power must be able to apply its force to every point of practicable access, so as to render it dangerous to attempt to enter; and there is no blockade of that port where its force can not be brought to bear. Kent.
2. An obstruction to passage. To raise a blockade. See under Raise.
Block*ade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blockaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Blockading.]
1. To shut up, as a town or fortress, by investing it with troops or vessels or war for the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or the introduction of supplies. See note under Blockade, n. "Blockaded the place by sea." Gilpin.
2. Hence, to shut in so as to prevent egress. Till storm and driving ice blockade him there. Wordsworth.
3. To obstruct entrance to or egress from. Huge bales of British cloth blockade the door. Pope.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
12 January 2025
HABIT
(noun) (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition; “owls have nocturnal habits”; “she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair”; “long use had hardened him to it”
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