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Zollverein

[tsawl-fer-ahyn; English tsawl-fuh-rahyn]
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noun
  1. (in the 19th century) a union of German states for the maintenance of a uniform tariff on imports from other countries, and of free trading among themselves.
  2. any similar union or arrangement between a number of states; customs union.
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Origin of Zollverein

1835–45; < German, equivalent to Zoll custom, duty, tariff + Verein union
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for zollverein

Historical Examples

  • Prussia, with her Zollverein, was preparing embarrassments for us.

    Sentimental Education, Volume II

    Gustave Flaubert

  • The Zollverein was the only really German action to which she can point.

  • Protocol was boring our host with his views on the Zollverein.

  • A factor that made for unity among the German states was the Zollverein.

  • Even in the earlier stages of its development the Zollverein had a marked effect on the condition of the country.

British Dictionary definitions for zollverein

Zollverein

noun
  1. the customs union of German states organized in the early 1830s under Prussian auspices
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Word Origin

C19: from Zoll tax, toll ² + Verein union
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 zollverein

n.

1843, German, literally "customs union," from Zoll "toll" (see toll (n.)) + Verein "union," from vereinen "to unite," from ver- + ein "one" (see one).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper