Taboo

Tabu , ta-bōō′, n. an institution among the Polynesians, forming a penal system based on religious sanctions, by which certain things are held sacred or consecrated, and hence prohibited to be used—by a natural transference of meaning by a ociation of ideas becoming equivalent to 'unholy,' 'accursed'—also Tamboo′ , Tambu′ , and Tapu′ : any prohibition, interdict, restraint, ban, exclusion, ostracism.— v.t. to forbid approach to: to forbid the use of:— pr.p. tabōō′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. tabōōed′. [Polynesian tapu —prob. ta , to mark, pu , expre ing intensity.]