(also tabu )
■ noun ( plural ~s or tabus ) a social or religious custom placing prohibition or restriction on a particular thing or person.
■ adjective prohibited or restricted by social custom.
↘designated as sacred and prohibited.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing , ~ed or tabus , tabuing , tabued ) place under a ~.
Origin
C18: from Tongan tabu 'set apart, forbidden'.