publican
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Publican \Pub"li*can\, n. [L. publicanus: cf. F. publicain. See
{Public}.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.) A farmer of the taxes and public revenues;
hence, a collector of toll or tribute. The inferior
officers of this class were often oppressive in their
exactions, and were regarded with great detestation.
[1913 Webster]
As Jesus at meat . . . many publicans and sinners
came and sat down with him and his disciples.
--Matt. 1x.
10.
[1913 Webster]
How like a fawning publican he looks! --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. The keeper of an inn or public house; one licensed to
retail beer, spirits, or wine.
[1913 Webster]
from
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Publican
one who farmed the taxes (e.g., Zacchaeus, Luke 19:2) to be
levied from a town or district, and thus undertook to pay to the
supreme government a certain amount. In order to collect the
taxes, the publicans employed subordinates (5:27; 15:1; 18:10),
who, for their own ends, were often guilty of extortion and
peculation. In New Testament times these taxes were paid to the
Romans, and hence were regarded by the Jews as a very heavy
burden, and hence also the collectors of taxes, who were
frequently Jews, were hated, and were usually spoken of in very
opprobrious terms. Jesus was accused of being a "friend of
publicans and sinners" (Luke 7:34).
from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
PUBLICAN, civil law. A farmer of the public revenue; one who held a lease of
some property from the public treasury. Dig. 39, 4, 1, 1; Id. 39, 4, 12, 3;
Id. 39, 4, 13.
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
29 Moby Thesaurus words for "publican":
Internal Revenue Service, assessor, barkeep, barkeeper, barmaid,
barman, bartender, bootlegger, brewer, brewmaster, customhouse,
customs, distiller, exciseman, farmer, liquor dealer,
liquor store owner, mixologist, moonshiner, revenuer, tapster,
tapstress, tax assessor, tax collector, tax farmer, taxer, taxman,
vintner, wine merchant
[email protected]