In 1568 Spain imposed an embargo against all English imports into The Netherlands. This was in retaliation for Queen Elizabeth 1 allowing privateers like Drake and Hawkins to raid Spanish treasure ships crossing the Atlantic from the Caribbean. The specific incident that triggered the embargo was English port agents seizing gold and silver from Spanish ships that sheltered in Plymouth and Southampton to escape the privateers. The embargar lasted for 5 years. In 1602 English documents referred to the situation as an “embargo with Spaine.” This is the first usage of the word embargo in English.
The word embargo derives from the Spanish embargar which comes from the Latin imbarricare which is formed from barra, meaning bar, as an impediment to something. In English we use the term bar to mean obstruct or prevent passage, progress, or action, as in “putting a bar in the way.”
So, the initial definition of an embargo is an order of government prohibiting the departure of commercial shipping from its ports, a legal prohibition on commerce. The word developed into an order by any common carrier or public regulatory agency to restrict freight transportation. In 1755 embargo became a verb meaning “to place an embargo on.” Jane Austen (1775-1817) wrote, “I lay no embargo on anybody’s words.” And so, embargo was used as any stoppage or impediment. Parental authority might be used to declare that there is a standing embargo against the use of foul language in the home.
The current incursion by Russia into Ukraine has led to the use of embargos again. Eamon Barrett writes in Fortune, “Under Biden’s new embargo, any chip developed with any American technology is prohibited from sale to Russia.” And in March Ariel Cohen wrote in Forbes, “With resurgent post-Covid demand and US plans to embargo Russian crude imports, global prices will likely continue to climb.” An embargo is usually created because of political or economic circumstances between nations. It is designed to isolate a country, create difficulties, and force it to act on the issue that led to the embargo. Embargoes can be a tool for economic warfare.
The concept of an embargo is perhaps as old as the notion of trade itself. In 3000 BCE there is record of trade between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. Since then, a withdrawal of trade was used as a tactic to cut a better deal or punish one’s enemies. The medieval Popes used the concept of an embargo to coerce European cities into submission by restricting trade between local and international areas.
An embargo is a formidable tool that can influence a nation, both economically and politically. The ability to trade goods all over the world is key to maximizing the economic prosperity of a country. When that is no longer possible, it can have serious negative consequences.
There are several different types of embargoes. A trade embargo refers to banning imports or exports to or from one or more countries. A military embargo prevents the exchange of military goods with a country, while an oil embargo prohibits only the trade of oil, and an embargo on endangered animals would prevent the trade of such animals. Embargoes may be political, economic, security-related, environmental, or health-related.
The US has had a commercial embargo on Cuba since 1961. Forty years after they were imposed, the sanctions have only damaged US firms and the Cuban people. Pope John Paul II stated during his 1998 visit to Cuba, embargoes "are always deplorable because they harm the needy". It remains to be seen what the current embargoes against Russia will accomplish. Hopefully the poor of Russia will not bear the brunt of the sanctions.
Thanks to Stu for suggesting this word. If you have any words you would like researched, please email me.
Columnist John Kreutzwieser loves to research words and writes this weekly Word Wisdom column for Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com. He has an interest in the usage, origin, and relevance of words for society today. Greek and Latin form the basis of many words, with ancient Hebrew shedding light on word usage.
John would like to know if anyone has a sincere interest in a relevant word that he could possibly research for an upcoming column. If so, please send your requests to wordwisdom2021@gmail.com . Words will be selected according to relevance and research criteria. We cannot confirm that all words will be used.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
