3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
As Jesus at meat . . . many publicans and sinners
came and sat down with him and his disciples.
--Matt. 1x.
10.
How like a fawning publican he looks! --Shak.
2. The keeper of an inn or public house; one licensed to
retail beer, spirits, or wine.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
publican
n : (British) the keeper of a public house [syn: {tapster}]
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
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).
more about publican
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