dues-paying

[ dooz-pey-ing, dyooz- ]

adjective

1. gaining experience, especially by hard and often unpleasant or uncongenial work:

   He spent his dues-paying years as a cocktail pianist.

noun

1. the act or process of gaining experience, especially slowly and laboriously:

   She had many years of dues-paying before her abilities were recognized.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dues-paying¹

First recorded in 1860–70

Example Sentences

At this time dues-paying members were reported from seventeen towns.

From Project Gutenberg