cess

[ses]

noun

British. a tax, assessment, or lien.
(in Scotland) a land tax.
(in Ireland) a military assessment.

(in India) an import or sales tax on a commodity.

verb (used with object)

British. to tax; assess.

Origin of cess

1400–50; late Middle English; aphetic variant of obsolete assess assessment, noun use of assess (v.)

cess

[ses]

noun Irish English Informal.

luck (usually used in the expression bad cess to): Bad cess to them!

Origin of cess

First recorded in 1855–60; perhaps aphetic variant of success

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for cess

Historical Examples of cess

They say he has the taxes, too, in his power, and can cess you just as he likes.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II)
Charles James Lever
And there was the story about choosing the collector of the cess--'
Guy Mannering, or The Astrologer, Complete, Illustrated
Sir Walter Scott
That trunk went to Astoria instead of the Astor House, bad 'cess to it, and that's about as far apart as it could git.
Felix O'Day
F. Hopkinson Smith
Pour moi votre royaut a cess dtre politique et maintenant est historique; ma rpublique ne sen inquite pas.
Chantilly in History and Art
Louise M. Richter
The payment of cess for maintaining soldiers was the most grievous of burdens.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)
Richard Bagwell

British Dictionary definitions for cess

cess

noun

British any of several special taxes, such as a land tax in Scotland
(formerly, in Ireland)
1. the obligation to provide the soldiers and household of the lord deputy with supplies at fixed prices
2. any military exaction

verb

(tr) British to tax or assess for taxation
(formerly in Ireland) to impose (soldiers) upon a population, to be supported by them

Word Origin for cess

C16: short for assessment

cess

noun

an Irish slang word for luck bad cess to you!

Word Origin for cess

C19: probably from cess 1 (sense 2)

cess

noun

short for cesspool

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cess

"tax, levy," 1530s, short for assess (q.v.).