publican
- Chiefly British. a person who owns or manages a tavern; the keeper of a pub.
- Roman History. a person who collected public taxes.
- any collector of taxes, tolls, tribute, or the like.
Origin of publican
Examples from the Web for publican
Historical Examples of publican
The publican greeted the furniture dealer with a friendly nod.
People of PositionStanley Portal Hyatt
The publican, who carried a stick, was drunk, and the "knocker-up" was staggering on a crutch.
The ChristianHall Caine
He was a publican, who lived in Brown's Square and had been a friend of the soldier Wilkes.
The ChristianHall Caine
Pope Csar, the publican, in his chapel hat and white choker!
The ManxmanHall Caine
He was denounced by priest and publican as a subverter of morals.
MelomaniacsJames Huneker
publican
- (in Britain) a person who keeps a public house
- (in ancient Rome) a public contractor, esp one who farmed the taxes of a province
Word Origin for publican
Word Origin and History for publican
c.1200, "tax-gatherer," from Old French publician (12c.), from Latin publicanus "a tax collector," noun use of an adjective, "pertaining to public revenue," from publicum "public revenue," noun use of neuter of publicus (see public (adj.)). Original sense in Matt. xviii:17, etc.; meaning "keeper of a pub" first recorded 1728, from public (house) + -an.