Publican

Quick meaning: Publican is a noun meaning (Commonwealth, by extension) The manager or owner of a hotel.

Meaning

(Commonwealth, by extension) The manager or owner of a hotel.

More Meanings

1. (by extension, archaic) Any person who collects customs duties, taxes, tolls, or other forms of public revenue.
2. One regarded as extorting money from others by charging high prices.
3. A person excommunicated from the church; an excommunicant or excommunicate; also, a person who does not follow a Christian religion; a heathen, a pagan.
4. (Ancient Rome, historical) 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.
5. (chiefly UK, Ireland) The landlord (manager or owner) of a public house (“a bar or tavern, often also selling food and sometimes lodging; a pub”).

Example Sentences

Hovv like a favvning Publican he lookes.

[T]he Publicans, that is to ſaye, the cuſtomers and takers vp of tolles, […]

[T]here was a man named Zacheus, which was the cheefe among the Publicanes, and he was rich.

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer, / The publican 'e up an 'sez, 'We serve no red-coats here.'

Word Forms

• publicans
• publicane

Synonyms for publican

Depending on context, synonyms include ale-draper, alekeeper, licensee, bung, taverner, tavernkeep.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include tapster, landlord, lord, baron, clubmaster, barony.

Related Dictionary Tools