A public an-nouncement of an intended marriage, requir-ed by the English law to be made in a church or chapel, during service, on three consecutive Sundays before the marriage is celebrated. The object is to afford an oppor-tunity for any person to interpose an objec-tlon if he knows of any impediment or other just cause why the marringe should not take place. The publication of the bans may be dispensed with by procuring a special license to marry
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
