custom-house
(ˈkʌstəmhaʊs)
[custom 4.]
1. A house or office at which custom is collected; esp. a government office situated at a place of import or export, as a seaport, at which customs are levied on goods imported or exported. b. transf. The office of the establishment or department which has the management of the customs.
| a 1490 Botoner Itin. (Nasmith 1778) 167 Transeundo per le custom-hous usque per le condyt. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. ix. (R.), As he passed by the custome-house, he espyed sitting there a certayne publicane, called Matthewe. 1604 Dekker Honest Wh. Wks. 1873 II. 141 My men are all at Custome-house vnloding Wares. 1661 Cowley Disc. Govt. O. Cromwell Wks. 1710 II. 659 How much we have gotten by it, let the Custom-house and Exchange inform you. 1712 Budgell Spect. No. 277 ¶3 Its Cargo was seized on by the Officers of the Custom-house. 1803 Southey Eng. Eclogues ix, He..Swore no false oaths, except at the custom-house. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop iv, Smoked his smuggled cigars under the very nose of the Custom-House. |
2. attrib., as custom-house oath, custom-house officer, custom-house station.
| 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 101 Agreeing with the custom-house officer for a small matter. 1748 Overal in Whiston Mem. 411 A Custom-House Oath is become a proverbial Expression, for a Thing not to be reguarded. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Religion Wks. (Bohn) II. 101 The modes of initiation are more damaging than custom-house oaths. |
Hence custom-houser (nonce-wd.), a custom-house officer.
| 1865 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xxi. ii, Caitiff of a Custom-houser. |