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Definition of 'publican'

noun

The keeper of a public house [syn: publican, tavern keeper]

From: GCIDE

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. [1913 Webster]
As Jesus at meat . . . many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. --Matt. 1x. 10. [1913 Webster]
How like a fawning publican he looks! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. The keeper of an inn or public house; one licensed to retail beer, spirits, or wine. [1913 Webster]

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).