octroi

American  

[ok-troi, awk-trwa] / ˈɒk trɔɪ, ɔkˈtrwa /

noun

• octrois
  plural

1. (formerly especially in France and Italy) a local tax levied on certain articles, such as foodstuffs, on their entry into a city.

2. the place at which such a tax is collected.

3. the officials collecting it.

4. the act of a sovereign in granting to subjects a constitution or other charter.

---

octroi British  

/ ˈɒktrwɑː /

noun

1. (in some European countries, esp France) a duty on various goods brought into certain towns or cities

2. the place where such a duty is collected

3. the officers responsible for its collection

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• octrois
  plural

Etymology

Origin of octroi

1605–15; < French, noun derivative of octroyer to grant, partial Latinization of Old French otreier < Medieval Latin auctorizāre; see authorize

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

octroi octrois

Beyond this historic area are the outer boulevards which mark the octroi wall of Louis XVI.; further yet are the Thiers wall and fortifications of 1841.

From The Story of Paris by Katherine Kimball

Then, with great dignity, uprose the ancient valiant man of the octroi of Sarria, for he felt that some one must vindicate the municipality.

From The Firebrand by S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett

The three friends proceeded venta-wards, and just as they passed the octroi gate the same muleteer who had passed them outward bound, went in before them with the same leathern bottle in his hand.

From The Firebrand by S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett

At the gates of each small town in France the octroi, or impost, levies on articles of food brought in, and the customhouse in England seizes all American reprints of English books.

From The Complete Bachelor Manners for Men by Walter Germain

To replace the octroi, they are given their choice of five other taxes—upon alcohol, or upon horses, dogs, billiards, clubs, and various other articles of luxury.

From Paris From the Earliest Period to the Present Day; Volume 2 by William Walton

The octrois of towns.—The poor the greatest sufferers.

From The Ancient Regime by John Durand

Besides the people pay the door and window tax, the furniture tax, the prestations en nature, the permanent personal tax, and the octrois and the centimes additionnels levied for educational and other purposes.

From France and the Republic A Record of Things Seen and Learned in the French Provinces During the 'Centennial' Year 1889 by William Henry Hurlbert

The people are able to do it because, having got rid of tithes, feudal dues, the salt-tax, octrois and excise duties, they are in a comfortable position.

From The French Revolution - Volume 1 by John Durand

Seven times in twenty-eight years5264 he withdraws and re-sells the right of appointing their municipal officers, and, to get rid of "this enormous financial burden," the towns double their octrois.

From The Ancient Regime by John Durand

In fact, Fregier describes the criminal industries which are called into existence by octrois, and which will disappear with the abolition of these absurd and unjust duties.

From Criminal Sociology by Enrico Ferri