"ban" = "requirement"

[Joel S. Berson]

At 5/5/2010 10:32 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>But Larry may be on to something, Not that they know what a "bann" is,

I'm sure they don't.

>but
>they must think of "ban on" as any kind of "public edict about."

Perhaps they're right!   I am surprised to find that "any kind of
public edict" *is* one meaning:

"ban, n1, I. Authoritative proclamation, and attached senses, from
Fr.  1. A public proclamation or edict; a summons by public
proclamation."  In use as late as c1450 and [1641].

Joel

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