customs
Pronunciation: /ˈkʌstəmz/
plural noun
- the official department that administers and collects the duties levied by a government on imported goods: cocaine seizures by customs have risen this year
- the place at a port, airport, or frontier where officials check incoming goods, travellers, or luggage: we were through customs with a minimum of formalities
- (usually customs duties) the duties levied by a government on imported goods: an inflow of customs duties to the Treasury from 1374 Chaucer worked as controller of customs on wool in the port of London
Origin:
late Middle English: originally in the singular, denoting a customary due paid to a ruler, later duty levied on goods on their way to market