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d by law or treaty; forbidden; as, contraband goods, or trade. The contraband will always keep pace, in some measure, with the fair trade. Burke.

A clay tablet on which was inscribed a contract, for safe keeping. Such tablets were inclosed in an outer case (often called the envelope), on which was inscribed a duplicate of the inscription on the inclosed tablet.

These sums, . . . and the forced contributions paid by luckless peasants, enabled him to keep his straggling troops together. Motley.

An officer appointed to keep a counter register of accounts, or to examine, rectify, or verify accounts. [More commonly written controller.]

ith manners and deportment; behaved. [Obs.] Till she be better conversationed, . . . I'll keep As far from her as the gallows. Beau. & Fl.

To keep company; to hold intimate intercourse; to commune; -- followed by with. To seek the distant hills, and there converse With nature. Thomson. Conversing with the world, we use the world's fashions. Sir W. Scott. But to converse with heaven -This is not easy. Wordsworth.

An inclosure for keeping small animals; a pen; especially, a grated box for confining poultry.

demanded (As like enough it will), I'd have it copied. Shak. Let this be copied out, And keep it safe for our remembrance. Shak.

The charge made by innkeepers for drawing the cork and taking care of bottles of wine bought elsewhere by a guest.

nce, because they found that the imputations . . . were well grounded." Clarendon. -- To keep the countenance, to preserve a composed or natural look, undisturbed by passion or emotion. Swift.

A piece of metal, ivory, wood, or bone, used in reckoning, in keeping account of games, etc. The old gods of our own race whose names . . . serve as counters reckon the days of the week. E. B. Tylor. What comes the wool to . . . I can not do it witthout counters. Shak.

A caster of accounts; a reckoner; a bookkeeper; -- used conteptuously.

The house or room in which a merchant, trader, or manufacturer keeps his books and transacts business.

To make difficulty; to be unwilling. [Obs.] If he coyed To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home. Shak.

A wadded covering for a teakettle or other vessel to keep the contents hot.

A frame to keep the bedclothes from conntact with the person.

Iron insruments with sharp points, worn on the shoes to assist in gaining or keeping a foothold.

d; a weak-hearted, spiritless fellow. See Recreant, n. King Henry. Is it fit this soldier keep his oath Fluellen.He is a craven and a villain else. Shak.

A keeper of a low lodging house where sailors and emigrants are entrapped and fleeced.

A cloth to be laid under a dining table to receive falling fragments, and keep the carpet or floor clean. [Written also crumcloth.]