revenuer

English

Etymology

From revenue +‎ -er.

Noun

revenuer (plural revenuers)

  1. (US, regional, now historical) A government official who enforces laws prohibiting the illegal distillation of alcohol. [from 19th c.]
    • 1970, Donald Harington, Lightning Bug:
      ‘Mister, if yo're another revenuer, I kin tell ye y'aint gonna leave this valley alive.’

Usage notes
  • This term is especially associated with the efforts of the IRS to prevent illegal production and distribution of alcohol during the period of Prohibition in the U.S.
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