[CUSTOM 4.]
1. A house or office at which custom is collected; esp. a government office situated at a place of import or export, as a seaport, at which customs are levied on goods imported or exported. b. transf. The office of the establishment or department that has the management of the customs.
a. 1490. Botoner, Itin. (Nasmith, 1778), 167. Transeundo per le custom-hous usque per le condyt.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. ix. (R.). As he passed by the custome-house, he espyed sitting there a certayne publicane, called Matthewe.
1604. Dekker, Honest Wh., Wks. 1873, II. 141. My men are all at Custome-house vnloding Wares.
1661. Cowley, Disc. Govt. O. Cromwell, Wks. 1710, II. 659. How much we have gotten by it, let the Custom-house and Exchange inform you.
1712. Budgell, Spect., No. 277, ¶ 3. Its Cargo was seized on by the Officers of the Custom-house.
1803. Southey, Eng. Eclogues, ix. He … Swore no false oaths, except at the custom-house.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, iv. Smoked his smuggled cigars under the very nose of the Custom-House.
2. attrib., as custom-house oath, officer, station.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 101. Agreeing with the custom-house officer for a small matter.
1748. Overal, in Whiston, Mem., 411. A Custom-House Oath is become a proverbial Expression, for a Thing not to be reguarded.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Religion, Wks. (Bohn), II. 101. The modes of initiation are more damaging than custom-house oaths.
Hence Custom-houser (nonce-wd.), a custom-house officer.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XXI. ii. Caitiff of a Custom-houser.
