‖ douane
(dwan, duːˈɑːn)
[Fr.; = It. doana, dogana, lingua Franca douana, from Arabic: see divan.]
A custom-house (in France or the Mediterranean countries).
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., Dovane..the name of the Custom-house of Lyons; hence also any Custom or Import. 1671 Charente Let. Customs 25 Lions..so tame, that they went up and down our Doüane, or the Christians Warehouse amongst our Antilopes. 1828 [J. R. Best] Italy 74 The douane of Buffalora I found sufficiently..vexatious. |
Hence ‖ douanier (dwanje). [Fr.] A custom-house officer (in France or, by extension, elsewhere).
| 1739 Gray Let. Poems (1775) 65 The entrance is guarded by certain vigilant dragons, called Douäniers. 1815 Sporting Mag. XLV. 293 You have even made the douaniers of Dover relent. |