noun
publican
A person who collected taxes in ancient Rome.
The publican collects taxes from merchants in a Roman province.
Etymology
The Latin term concerns public revenue. It named a contractor who collected taxes or other state payments, supplying the historical Roman sense directly.
More examples
- Roman publicans bid for the right to collect taxes.
- The merchant pays the publican before unloading his goods.
- Villagers complain that the publican demands more than they owe.
Forms
publican · publicans
Similar words
- collector
- A broader term for someone who gathers payments or objects.
- taxman
- An informal modern term, not specific to ancient Rome.