ta|boo

ta|boo «tuh BOO, ta-», adjective, verb, -booed, -boo|ing, noun, plural -boos.

–adj.

1. forbidden by custom or tradition; banned; prohibited: »

Eating human flesh is taboo in civilized countries. The mention of her neighbours is evidently taboo, since…she is in a state of affront with nine-tenths of them (Mary R. Mitford).

2. set apart as sacred or cursed. Among the Polynesians certain things, places, and persons are taboo.

–v.t.

1. to make taboo; forbid; ban; prohibit: »

The Scandinavians, the Dutch and the Swiss all taboo masculine tears (David Gunston).

SYNONYM(S): proscribe.

2. to forbid social contact with; ostracize; boycott: »

You cannot taboo a man who has got a vote (Lord Bryce).

–n.

1. any ban on a practice or on the use of something; prohibition. SYNONYM(S): interdiction.

2. a ban on association with someone; exclusion from social relations; ostracism.

3. a) the system or act of setting things apart as forbidden. The Polynesians have many taboos under which certain things, places, and persons are set apart or prohibited as sacred, unclean, or cursed. »

The sacred protection of an express edict of the taboo, declaring his person inviolable for ever (Herman Melville).

b) the fact or condition of being so placed: »

whoever violates the taboo will presumably be stricken to death by unseen beings (Emory S. Bogardus).

c) the prohibition or interdict itself: »

Taboos were enforced by invoking fear (Emory S. Bogardus).

Also, tabu.

╂[< Tongan tabu]

Usage taboo, tabu. Taboo is more generally used than tabu, except in anthropology.