1. the official department that administers and collects the duties levied by a government on imported goods: "cocaine seizures by customs have risen this year"
▪ the place at a port, airport, or frontier where officials check incoming goods, travelers, or luggage: "arriving refugees were whisked through customs"
▪ the duties levied by a government on imported goods:"from 1374 Chaucer worked as controller of customs on wool in the port of London"
Word Originlate Middle English: originally in the singular, denoting a customary due paid to a ruler, later duty levied on goods on their way to market.
