octroi

[ ok-troi; French awk-trwa ]

noun

, plural oc·trois [ok, -troiz, awk-, trwa].

1. (formerly especially in France and Italy) a local tax levied on certain articles, such as foodstuffs, on their entry into a city.
2. the place at which such a tax is collected.
3. the officials collecting it.
4. the act of a sovereign in granting to subjects a constitution or other charter.

octroi

/ ˈɒktrwɑː /

noun

1. (in some European countries, esp France) a duty on various goods brought into certain towns or cities
2. the place where such a duty is collected
3. the officers responsible for its collection

Word History and Origins

Origin of octroi¹

1605–15; < French, noun derivative of octroyer to grant, partial Latinization of Old French otreier < Medieval Latin auctorizāre; authorize

Word History and Origins

Origin of octroi¹

C17: from French octroyer to concede, from Medieval Latin auctorizāre to authorize

Example Sentences

Mehta’s costs dropped after the government abolished 17 taxes, including the octroi, two years ago and established instead a national value-added tax on most business activity.

From New York Times

Or, worse still, on a few bottles of wine which may remain unconsumed at luncheon, but which the official of the octroi knows perfectly well were taken out into the campo that same morning?

From Project Gutenberg

They could see the octroi and the first houses through the trees.

From Project Gutenberg

These localities were free as regards customs duties, although dues of the nature of octroi charges were often levied.

From Project Gutenberg

Paris was thus left to the rioters, who seized arms wherever they could find them, broke open the jails, burnt the octroi barriers and soon had every man’s life and goods at their discretion.

From Project Gutenberg