/ok"troy/ ; Fr. /awk trddwann"/ , n. , pl. octrois /-troyz/ ; Fr. /-trddwann"/ .
1. (formerly esp. in France and Italy) a local tax levied on certain articles, such as foodstuffs, on their entry into a city.
2. the place at which such a tax is collected.
3. the officials collecting it.
4. the act of a sovereign in granting to subjects a constitution or other charter.
[ 1605-15; octroyer to grant, partial Latinization of OF otreier auctorizare; see AUTHORIZE ]