CUSTOMS
NOUNS, PERSON
1389 — CUSTOMER a person who is responsible for the levying and collection of customs duties in a particular port, region, etc.; a person whose job is to collect such duties and prevent illegal or contraband goods from entering or leaving a country; a customs officer
1473 — WAITER an officer in the employ of the Customs → obs. exc. hist.
1649 — CUSTOM HOUSE WAITER a customs officer who watches out for and inspects newly arrived ships in order to ensure that any customs duties due on imported goods are paid
1699 — TIDE-WAITER a customs officer who awaited the arrival of ships (formerly coming in with the tide), and boarded them to prevent the evasion of the custom-house regulations → Hist.
1780 — DAMNED SOUL a customs house officer who ‘guards against the crime of perjury, by taking a previous oath, never to swear truly on these occasions’ → sl.
1785 — SHARK a customs officer → sl.
1796 — GLUTMAN a term used in the Custom-house for an extra officer employed when there is a glut of work → obs.
..19C — LAND-SHARK a custom house officer → sl.
..L19 — RABBITS a customs officer → Royal Navy usage
1900 — GENERAL the Surveyor-General of the Customs → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
Lexicophilia 