revenuer

[ rev-uhn-yoo-er, -uh-noo- ]

noun

, Informal.

1. an agent of the U.S. Treasury Department, especially one whose responsibility is to enforce laws against illegal distilling or bootlegging of alcoholic liquor.

revenuer

/ ˈrɛvɪˌnjuːə /

noun

1. slang.
   a revenue officer or cutter

Word History and Origins

Origin of revenuer¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; revenue + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The revenuers couldn’t catch him in a car — he learned to drive at 8 — but he could not outrun them on foot.

From Washington Post

“The track was not quite as exciting as it was running from the revenuers. If you got caught, you knew you was going to jail.”

From New York Times

Its hillbilly character “Grandpappy” was shown on later bottles shooting at a government revenuer running from an outhouse.

From Washington Times

State and federal lawmakers want their potential tax revenues, just as the federal “revenuers” did from homemade distilleries and washtubs filled with gin.

From Washington Times

During Prohibition the ban on the production of alcohol was initially enforced by agents of the Treasury Department — “revenuers,” they were called.

From New York Times