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
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use publican in a sentence
Local publicans, riders, and dog riders had told him the group could be caught some weekend mornings around dawn.
In December, 1781, thirty-eight publicans were fined for allowing "tippling" on Sundays.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter ShowellIn fact, one could hardly appreciate the term "publicans and sinners" without seeing the Oriental tax-gatherers.
Humanly Speaking | Samuel McChord CrothersBoth are used by fraudulent brewers; and by publicans in reducing their beer.
But the old Baptists fiercely resisted the Reformers, and cast them out as heathen men and publicans.
Personal Recollections of Pardee Butler | Pardee Butler
He knows what publicans may be regarded as 'priest's men,' and who have leanings towards independence.
Hyacinth | George A. Birmingham
British Dictionary definitions for publican
/ (ˈpʌblɪkən) /
(in Britain) a person who keeps a public house
(in ancient Rome) a public contractor, esp one who farmed the taxes of a province
Origin of publican
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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