publican
/ˈpʌblək(ə)n/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.51 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The landlord (manager or owner) of a public house (“a bar or tavern, often also selling food and sometimes lodging; a pub”).
British usage
noun
A tax collector, especially one working in Judea and Galilee during New Testament times (1st century C.E.) who was generally regarded as sinful for extorting more tax than was due, and as a traitor for serving the Roman Empire.
noun
Any person who collects customs duties, taxes, tolls, or other forms of public revenue.
Archaic
noun
A person excommunicated from the church; an excommunicant or excommunicate; also, a person who does not follow a Christian religion; a heathen, a pagan.
Archaic
Example Sentences
- "I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer, / The publican 'e up an 'sez, 'We serve no red-coats here.'"
- "Matthevv vvhiche vvas other vvyſe alſo called Leui, beyng of a Puplican made an Apoſtle, firſt of all others compoſed and vvrote in Jevvrye, the ghoſpell of Chriſte in the Hebrue tounge, […]"
- "[T]he Publicans, that is to ſaye, the cuſtomers and takers vp of tolles, […]"
- "Hovv like a favvning Publican he lookes."
- "[I]f he [a brother who trespasses against one] neglect to heare the Church, let him be vnto thee as an heathen man, and a Publicane."
- "[T]here was a man named Zacheus, which was the cheefe among the Publicanes, and he was rich."
Etymology
Probably from public house (“(Britain) bar or tavern, often also selling food and sometimes lodging, pub”) or public (“open to all members of a community”) + -an (suffix forming agent nouns), apparently originally used humorously.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈpʌblək(ə)n/
- British English: /ˈpʌblɪk(ə)n/