publican

[ puhb-li-kuhn ]

noun
  1. Chiefly British. a person who owns or manages a tavern; the keeper of a pub.

  2. Roman History. a person who collected public taxes.

  1. any collector of taxes, tolls, tribute, or the like.

Origin of publican

1
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English word from Latin word pūblicānus.See public, -an

Words Nearby publican

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How to use publican in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for publican

publican

/ (ˈpʌblɪkən) /


noun
  1. (in Britain) a person who keeps a public house

  2. (in ancient Rome) a public contractor, esp one who farmed the taxes of a province

Origin of publican

1
C12: from Old French publicain, from Latin pūblicānus tax gatherer, from pūblicum state revenues

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