band

name

Etymology: * English, German and Jewish surname, from the noun Band (“hoop, metal ring”). * Also as an English surname, variant of Bond. * Also as a German surname, pet from of Bernhard. * As a Dutch surname, from the place name (die) Bant.

1. A surname from German.

noun

Etymology: Derived from Middle English band, from Old French bande, from Old Occitan banda (“regiment of troops”), perhaps from Frankish *bend, from Proto-Germanic *bandiz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to tie; bond, band”). Compare German Bande (“band”).

1. A group of musicians who perform together as an ensemble; sometimes, such a group working for a professional recording artist.

   “musical band”

   “session band”

2. A type of orchestra originally playing janissary music; an instance of this type.
3. Ellipsis of marching band.
4. A group of people loosely united for a common purpose, such as a band of thieves.

   “But in the mean time Robin Hood and his band lived quietly in Sherwood Forest, without showing their faces abroad, for Robin knew that it would not be wise for him to be seen in the neighborhood of Nottingham, those in authority being very wroth with him.”

   “"My third command to the Winged Monkeys," said Glinda, "shall be to carry you to your forest. Then, having used up the powers of the Golden Cap, I shall give it to the King of the Monkeys, that he and his band may thereafter be free for evermore."”

5. A small group of people living in a simple society, contrasted with tribes, chiefdoms, and nations.
6. Ellipsis of band government.

verb

1. Obsolete form of bandy.