gabelle

American  

[guh-bel] / gəˈbɛl /

noun

1. a tax; excise.

2. French History. a tax on salt, abolished in 1790.

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gabelle British  

/ ɡæˈbɛl /

noun

1. French history a salt tax levied until 1790

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Other Word Forms

• gabelled adjective

Etymology

Origin of gabelle

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English gabul, gabel (probably confused with gavel ² ), from Middle French, from Italian gabella, from Arabic qabālah “tax, receipt”

Example Sentences

The gabelle, or salt tax, was so high during the reign of Louis XVI that it became a major grievance and eventually helped ignite the French Revolution.

From Time Magazine Archive

Finally, there were indirect taxes, such as the salt gabelle.

From A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1. by Hayes, Carlton J. H.

First introduction of the gabelle, or salt duty, in France.

From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 06 (From Barbarossa to Dante) by Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis)

But more important than any of these was the great Government indirect tax, the monopoly on salt, or gabelle.

From The French Revolution A Short History by Johnston, R. M. (Robert Matteson)

So did the figs, which rolled about in every direction, while the boys scrambled for them, and some laughed, while others shouted angrily, "Take off the gabelle!"

From Naples Past and Present by Norway, Arthur H.