disband, v.
(dɪsˈbænd)
[ad. 16th c. F. desbander, mod.F. débander; in military sense after It. sbandare (cf. Sp., Pg. disbandar), f. It. banda, F. bande, band n.3
In the sense ‘to unbind, loosen, let loose, unbend a bow’, etc. desbander (also desbender) goes back to 12th c. in OF.: cf. disbend.]
I. trans.
1. To break up (a band or company); to dissolve and dismiss from service (a military or other force).
| 1591 Garrard Art Warre 156 And afterwards disband them in such a place. 1649 Bp. Guthrie Mem. (1702) 45 The Marquiss of Huntley..disbanded his Forces. 1701 De Foe True-born Eng. i. 148 No Parliament his Army cou'd disband. 1771 Junius Lett. lxii. 322 You talk of disbanding the army with wonderful ease and indifference. 1868 Pall Mall G. 23 July 5 The 1st East York Artillery Volunteers..has been disbanded on account of insubordinate conduct. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 72 When Agathocles died, his mercenary troops were disbanded. |
† b. To dismiss, discharge, or expel from a band or company. Obs.
| 1626 J. Yates Ibis ad Caesarem ii. 6 You haue fathered vpon mee that bastard, which your selfe disbands. 1666 Ld. Orrery State Letters (1743) ii. 54 To take notice of my securing and disbanding Langley. 1667 J. Flavel Saint Indeed (1754) 124 Thou art disbanded by death, and called off the field. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. II. i. 71 After 30 years service a Soldier may petition to be disbanded. |
c. refl. (= 4.)
| 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (J.), They disbanded themselves, and returned every man to his own dwelling. 1614 Sylvester Bethulia's Rescue v. 20 Each, as him listeth, dares him now dis-band. 1651 tr. Hist. Don Fenise 275 Leon disbanded himselfe upon the instant. 1659 B. Harris Parival's Iron Age 77 marg., His Army disbands it self. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 252 They paid..so much respect to William's authority as to disband themselves when his proclamation was published. |
† 2. To let loose, turn off or out, dismiss from union or association, send away. Obs.
| 1604 Earl Stirling Aurora iv. (R.), What savage bull disbanded from his stall, Of wrath a signe more inhumane could make? 1625 Bp. R. Montagu App. Cæsar ii. ii. 114 M. Mountagu..hath disbanded them from their shelter. 1643 Milton Divorce vii. (1851) 37 And therfore by all the united force of the Decalogue she [the wife] ought to be disbanded, unlesse we must set marriage above God and charity. 1715 tr. Pancirollus' Rerum Mem. I. ii. x. 90 They disband all Trouble and Anxiety from the pensive Mind. 1790 J. B. Mordon West India Islands 108 Her husband..took the..little ones into his own protection, and disbanded their vile mother. |
† 3. To break up the constitution of, dissolve, disintegrate. Obs.
| 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth iii. ii. (1723) 176 That a Quantity of Water sufficient to make such a Deluge was created..and, when the Business was done, all disbanded again and annihilated. 1793 W. Roberts Looker-on lxvi. (1794) III. 31 The very elements of civilization have been destroyed in a moment, and society itself disbanded. |
II. intr. (for refl.)
4. To break up as a body of soldiers, to cease to be a band or company; to break rank, fall into disorder, disperse; to leave military service.
| 1598 Barret Theor. Warres ii. i. 28 Shewing them..how to disband, and how to fal into troupes. a 1608 Sir F. Vere Comm. 8, I commanded our men not to disband, but pursue them. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. vi. xiv. §12. 92 The rest disbanded, turned their backes, and fled toward the desert. 1724 De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 200 They began to disband, and run every way. 1835 Alison Hist. Europe (1849–50) III. xiii. §30. 26 The troops..openly threatened to disband. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 268 Feversham had ordered all the royal army to disband. |
† 5. To break up into its constituent parts, dissolve; to separate, retire from association. Obs.
| 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Assurance vi, When both rocks and all things shall disband. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. ii. viii. 81 He makes a confident resolution..though the purpose disbands upon the next temptation. 1697 Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. i. (1709) 117 They [Men of Honour] should throw up their Fortune; and Disband from Society. |
Hence disˈbanded ppl. a., turned loose out of their ranks; disordered; scattered or dispersed; dismissed; disˈbanding vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1611 Cotgr., Desbandade, a disbanding; a cassing of whole troups, or companies of souldiours. ― Desbandé, disbanded. 1625 Markham Souldier's Accid. 15 The Sergeants are..to leade loose and disbanded fyles of Shot in Skirmish. 1641 Nicholas Papers (Camden) 18 Letters..touchinge the disbandinge of the Scottishe Armie. 1679–88 Secr. Serv. Money Chas. II & Jas. II (Camden) 36 To..2,159li 13s 9{supd}..paid..for the disbanding tax for the county of Leicest{supr}. 1689 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 547 The house of commons had the late disbanded judges before them. 1712 Arbuthnot John Bull iii. iii, A poor disbanded officer. a 1859 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxiv. V. 170 He admitted it to be necessary for him to give his assent to the disbanding bill. 1874 Green Short Hist. viii. §6. 524 The disbanded soldiers of the army..spread over the country. |