EXCISE

n. & v. --n. 1 a a duty or tax levied on goods and commodities produced or sold within the country of origin. b a tax levied on certain licences. 2 Brit. a former government office collecting excise. °Now the Board of Customs and Excise. --v.tr. 1 charge excise on (goods). 2 force (a person) to pay excise. [MDu. excijs, accijs, perh. f. Rmc: rel. to CENSUS]