Definition of "excise" in English

noun

1. A tax charged on goods produced within the country (as opposed to customs duties, charged on goods from outside the country).

   • Andrew Houſtoun and Adam Muſhet, being Tackſmen of the Excize, did Imploy Thomas Rue to be their Collector, and gave him a Sallary of 30. pound Sterling for a year.
   • 1755, Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language, "excise", A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but wretches hired by those to whom Excise is paid.
   • 1787, Constitution of the United States of America, Article I, Section 8, The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts […] of the United States;

verb

1. To impose an excise tax on something.

verb

1. To cut out; to remove.

   • 1901, Andrew Lang, Preface to the second edition of Myth, Ritual, and Religion, In revising the book I […] have excised certain passages which, as the book first appeared, were inconsistent with its main thesis.