[em.bar.go] n, pl -goes [Sp, fr. embargar to bar, fr. (assumed) VL imbarricare, fr. L in- + (assumed) VL barra bar] (1593) 1: an order of a government prohibiting the departure of commercial ships from its ports
2: a legal prohibition on commerce "an ~ on arms shipments"
3: stoppage, impediment; esp: prohibition "I lay no ~ on anybody's words --Jane Austen"
4: an order by a common carrier or public regulatory agency prohibiting or restricting freight transportation
[2]embargo vt -goed ; -go.ing (1755): to place an embargo on