also 5–6 bande. [Late 15th c. bande, a. F. bande = Pr., Sp., It. banda, app. adopted from Teutonic (cf. OHG. bant, OS., ON. band: see BAND sb.1; also Goth. bandi: see BEND sb.1). The word received in Romanic a new development of sense, not found in Teutonic, with which it has since been taken back, not only into Eng., but also into Ger. (bande) and Du. (bende, formerly bande); the adoption being facilitated by its obvious connection with the native words. In Eng., where the pre-existing BAND sb.1, was synonymous with bend, the present word was, by confusion with these, also often written bend. So also in mod.Du. bende for bande, by assoc. with a native bende: see BEND sb.1
The actual history of banda in this sense, and its relation to the Teutonic forms, are not without uncertainty, owing to our ignorance at present of its age, and to the fact that It., Sp., Pg. banda, F. bande, are found also as synonyms of benda, bende ‘fascia’ (which, except in It., they have now indeed superseded), while conversely Littré’s earliest example of bande ‘troop’ is spelt bende, thus showing at least form-association between the two words. And some actually identify them: Du Cange says that the company of soldiers formed by Alfonso of Castille was called a banda, from the red banda or ribbon worn by them as a sash; and the new ed. of the Vocab. della Crusca explains banda as ‘Company of soldiers, because originally distinguished by a banda or band of cloth of a certain colour.’ But Littré refers banda, bande ‘troop’ to late L. bandum BANNER; and Du Cange shows med. L. bandus in sense both of ‘fascia,’ and of ‘company of men collected under a certain leader or banner,’ thus associating all three notions. Whatever the original source, it is evident that the popular feeling associated benda, banda, ‘fascia, stripe, sash, scarf, ribbon,’ banda, ‘company, troop,’ and bandum ‘banner.’]
1. An organized company; a troop. Said of armed men, also of robbers, assassins, etc.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, lv. 152. Mesapus wyth a goode bande of folke.
1568. Bible (Bishops’), 2 Kings xxiv. 2. Bandes of the Chaldees, and bandes of the Syrians.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, I. i. 5. Trayned companies, and selected bandes.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 997. Her victorious Bands.
1822. Byron, Werner, IV. i. 301. The ‘black bands’ who still Ravage the frontier.
1826. Southey, Lett. C. Butler, 499. A whole band of robbers were converted.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 330. Small bands, unable to resist in the open field.
b. Trained or train-band: see TRAIN-BAND.
2. A confederation of persons having a common purpose.
1557. N. T. (Genev.), Ep. *iii. The traiterous bande.
1738. Wesley, Wks. (1872), I. 92. That the persons so meeting be divided into several bands, or little companies.
1879. Furnivall, in New Shaks. Soc. Rep., 11. The band of English men and women whose bond of oneness is ‘to do honour to Shakspere.’
3. A company of persons or animals in movement.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, IV. i. 16. He must thinke vs some band of strangers.
1611. Bible, Gen. xxxii. 7. Hee diuided the … camels into two bands.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XXII. 521. The matron-train with all the virgin-band.
1770. Goldsm., Des. Vill., 401. Downward they move, a melancholy band.
1876. Green, Short Hist., iv. § 6. The little band of fugitives.
4. A company of musicians; the company of musicians attached to a regiment of the Army.
1660–3. Warrant Bk., iv. 316. George Hudson and Davies Mell to give orders for the band of Musicns. Ibid., 384. His Maties Band of Violins.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 446. The entertainment consists of a fine band of music.
1812. J. Wilson, Isle of Palms, IV. 442. The music bands both near and far Are playing.
1832. Regul. & Instr. Cavalry, III. 58. The Band … plays whilst the Regiment is passing.
1845. E. Holmes, Mozart, 6. Pieces which it seems were daily performed … by a band on the fortifications.
† 5. fig. A group of things. Obs.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., III. iii. Those Things we … have ranked into Bands, under distinct Names or Ensigns.
6. Band of Hope, a name given (first about 1847) to associations of young people who pledge themselves to total abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors.
1847. J. Tunnicliff, Temperance song, ‘Come, all dear children.’ The Band of Hope shall be our name, the Temperance star our guide.
1878. Temp. Record, 17 Jan., 33/2. Thus we find, in every city, town, and hamlet, Bands of Hope, and Senior Bands of Hope.
7. Comb., as band-brother, -roll, -society. Band-master, the leader of a band of musicians, whence band-mastered ppl. a.; band-stand, a platform or other structure for the use of a band of musicians.
1742. Observ. Methodist, 20. Give my dear Love to my dear *Band Brethren.
1858. W. Ellis, Vis. Madagascar, xiii. 369. The *bandmaster of one of the English regiments.
1865. Ruskin, Sesame, 110. A large species of marsh mosquito … melodious, *band-mastered, trumpeting in the summer air.
1693. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 200. A *bandroll or Muster-roll.
1742. Observ. Methodists, 20. Forming them into *Band Societies.
1859. J. Lang, Wand. India, 256. On the parade ground and at the *band stand.
1879. Spectator, 7 June, 719. Co-operating in labour, which the late Prof. Clifford used to speak of … as *band-work.
