/ar"ee er'ban"/ ; Fr. /ann rddyerdd bahonn"/ , n. , pl. arrière-bans /-banz"/ ; Fr. /-bahonn"/ .
1. a group of vassals who owed military service, esp. to French kings.
2. the summoning by a medieval ruler of all vassals and free men for military service.
[ 1515-25; arrière behind, rear; see ARREAR) of OF arban, herban hari army, ban BAN 2 ]