Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Impost

Im′post

,
Noun.
[OF.
impost
, F.
impot
, LL.
impostus
, fr. L.
impostus
, p. p. of
imponere
to impose. See
Impone
.]
1.
That which is imposed or levied; a tax, tribute, or duty; especially, a duty or tax laid by goverment on goods imported into a country.
Even the ship money . . . Johnson could not pronounce to have been an unconstitutional
impost
.
Macaulay.
2.
(Arch.)
The top member of a pillar, pier, wall, etc., upon which the weight of an arch rests.
Syn. – Tribute; excise; custom; duty; tax.

Webster 1828 Edition


Impost

IM'POST

,
Noun.
[L. impositum, impono.]
1.
Any tax or tribute imposed by authority; particularly, a duty or tax laid by government on goods imported, and paid or secured by the importer at the time of importation. Imposts are also called customs.
2.
In architecture, that part of a pillar in vaults and arches, on which the weight of the building rests; or the capital of a pillar, or cornice which crowns the pier and supports the first stone or part of an arch.

Definition 2024


impost

impost

See also: impôt

English

Noun

impost (plural imposts)

  1. (chiefly historical) A tax, tariff or duty that is imposed, especially on merchandise.
    • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 56:
      New universal direct taxes had to be introduced [...], while the burden of indirect taxes was also made heavier, with new imposts being levied on an ensemble of items ranging from playing cards to wigs.
  2. (horse racing, slang) The weight that must be carried by a horse in a race, the handicap.
Translations

See also

Etymology 2

From Italian imposta, from Latin imposta

Noun

impost (plural imposts)

  1. The top part of a column, pillar, pier, wall, etc. that supports an arch.

Catalan

Proper noun

impost m (plural imposts or impostos)

  1. tax