/ ˈpʌblɪkən; NAmE / noun
1.
( BrE , formal ) a person who owns or manages a pub
2.
( AustralE , NZE ) a person who owns or manages a hotel
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (referring to someone who collected taxes in ancient Rome and biblical times): from Old French publicain , from Latin publicanus , from publicum public revenue, neuter (used as a noun) of publicus of the people. The current sense dates from the early 18th cent.