custom 
The country ruxhnnt 1 niiikrth things decent in vse, as In 
Asia fur all men tu wearc long gowncs lintli a fool :in>l 
horschaeke. t'iil/''iili<iiti, Arte of Kng. 1'oesie, p. '239. 
I know this < n..l,,ni in you yet is but a light IMsjiosition ; 
iti-s no lliil.it, 1 ho|'. ' llo,i;-ll. Letters, I. V. 11. 
I may notice that habit is formed liy the frequent repe- 
tition of the same action or passion, anil that this n-peti 
tiun is calleil i-onsiteliidv, or cirxtm. Tile latter terms, 
which pitiperly signify the cause, are not uufreqllcntly 
abusively employed for habit, their cttcct. 
Sn- H'. Iliniiiltuit, Mctaph., X. 
We arc all living according to curium , we ilo as other 
people ilo, anil shrink from an act of our own. 
Kiiii'i-Miii, Fortune of the Republic. 
2. In law, collectively, the settled habitudes of 
a community, such as are and have been for an 
indefinite time past generally recognized in it 
as the standards of what is just and right ; an- 
cient and general usage having the force of la w. 
Some writers use the word without iiualihcatiou, as mean- 
ing only i/n'i-ti/ i-uxtomx that is, such as are prevalent 
throughout the nation ; and some as meaning only local 
or i,,i ,-r ,, !'!<!, <-n*tn,xx. such as obtain only in a particular 
class, vocation, or place. In modern use, custom is more 
appropriate \ immemorial habitudes, either general or 
characteristic of a particular district and having legal 
force, anil tuaiie to the habitudes of a particular vocation 
or trade. In the history of France the term custom is ap- 
plieil specifically to numerous systems of ancient usage 
which were judicially recognized as binding upon their 
respective communities before the revolution of 1789, or 
until the promulgation of the Code Napoleon: as, the 
custom of Normandy, of Itrittany, of Orleans, etc. There 
were 60 general customs (each extending over a whole 
province) and 1(>5 particular customs (those of cities, bish- 
oprics. ete.)reduced to writing. The custom of Paris was 
established hy the French as the law of Canada, and many 
of its provisions were embodied in the Code Napoleon. 
The new tenant may not challenge any by costome, but 
lonlyl hy sufferance of the ould tenants. 
English Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. 437. 
The fraunchise;; and free custumes whiche beth gode in 
the saide toune I shall meyntene, 
Kiiylish Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. 416. 
Custom* within each country existed before statutes, 
and so observances come imperceptibly and control the 
conduct of a circle of nations. 
Woolsey, Introd. to Inter. Law, 28. 
3. The buying of goods or supplying of one's 
current needs ; the practice of having recourse 
to some particular place, shop, manufactory, 
house of entertainment, etc., for the purpose 
of purchasing or giving orders. 
It is much to !, doubted, there will neither come cus- 
toitie nor any thing from thence to England within these 
few yeares. Capt. John Smith, True Travels, II. 80. 
Let him have your custom, but not your votes. Addison. 
4. Toll, tax, or duty ; in the plural, specifically, 
the duties imposed by law on merchandise im- 
ported or exported. In the United States customs are 
by the Constitution confined to duties on imports (on 
which alone they are now levied in European countries 
generally), and are imposed by act of Congress. They have 
constituted more than half the receipts of the national 
government. Their management is intrusted to an officer 
of the Treasury Department called the Commissioner of 
Customs. See tariff. 
Render therefore to all their dues : tribute to whom 
tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom 
fear. Horn. xiii. 7. 
The custom* and subsidy of wool, so fruitful of revenue 
in former times, were indeed abolished, in consequence 
of the prohibition, in 1847, of the exportation of wool. 
S. Dowell, Taxes in England, II. 6. 
Commissioner of Customs. See commissioner. Cus- 
tom of merchants, or /i'.r m-'rcatoria, the unwritten law 
relating to billsof exchange, mercantile contracts, sale, pur- 
chase, and barter of goods, freight, insurance, etc. Cus- 
tom Of war, the unwritten military law derived from 
military usage ; the common law of courts martial. Gen- 
eral custom. ( ) In Kay. law, a custom which, though it 
may not be universal, prevails throughout the kingdom at 
large, as distinguished from one which is merely local. (b) 
In old French low, a system of customary law common to 
a whole province. Guardian by custom. See./imrdian. 
Heir by custom. See heir. Heriot custom. See 
lii'rint. --Syn. 1. Custom, lialiit. I'ml/if, Maiini-r, I'mcHa; 
Fashion, rule, wont. ('../...// implies i tinned volition, 
the choice to keep doing what one has done ; as compared 
with iiHiini'-r im>\ftix!iin, it implies a good deal of per- 
manence. Habit is a custom continued so steadily as to 
develop a tendency or inclination, physical or moral, to 
keep it up : as, the haMt of early rising ; the habit of smok- 
ing, llnbit ami practice apply more often to the acts of 
an imliviiliial ; fmtliion and usage more often to many ; the 
others indifferently to one or more. Manner ranges in 
meaning from <(..,/, to huliit : as, it was the manner of 
the country. I'rartice is nearly equivalent to custom, but 
is somewhat more emphatically an act. Fashion is ap- 
plieil t<> thosr customs which go by caprice or fancy, with 
little basis in reason; it especially applies to trifling 
things, ami those things which have little permanence : 
as, it is tht'/ff/mi/i of the time; hence its application to 
the constantly changing styles of dress. 
Ill ctittti'niK by decrees to hain't* rise, 
111 habits soon become exalted vice. 
l>riitlen,ti. of Ovid's Pythag. Phil., 1. 682. 
In some royal houses of Europe it was once a custum 
that every son, if not every daughter, should learn a trade. 
7v v^'rnv;/. Sri -ret Societies, i. 
Right thinking in any matter depends \vn mud the 
habit of thought; anil the Imbit of thought, partly nat- 
in:: 
ural, ill pcml- in pail on tlu artificial inttiicni-cs to which 
the minil has been sniijecti-'l. 
//. .s>-invr. Study of Sociol., p. 314. 
Uiui/fs, no matter of what kind, which circumstances 
have established . . . become sam-titled. 
//. ,s>. H.V/-, I'rin. of I'sychol., { 522. 
To my mind, though I am native here, 
And to the ntitnii'-f born, it is a f*ti>,u 
More honour'd in the In-each than the observance. 
Win*., Hamlet, I. 4. 
It was once the j/mi-'/c,- of nations to slaughter prison- 
ers of war ; but even the Spirit of War recoils now from 
this bloody sacrifice. Sinnn'-i-, orations, I. 50. 
In words, aH/ax/ttVux, the same rule will hold, 
Alike fantastic if too new or old. ' 
/'"/', Essay oil Criticism, 1. 333. 
4. Until, linif*t, etc. See fox, n. 
II. a. 1. Done or made for individual cus- 
tomers, or to order: as, custom work; custom 
shoes. 2. Engaged in doing custom work: as, 
a custom tailor. 
CUStomt (kus'tum), r. [< ME. cutown,<. OF. 
mxliimer, coustumer, custumer, accustom, < cos- 
tume, costume, custom: see custom, n., and cf. 
accustom, of which cuxtom, i 1 ., is in part an abbre- 
viated form.] I. trans. 1. To make familiar ; 
accustom. 
And yat menu of craftes and all othir menu yat fyndes 
torches, yat yai come fnrtli in array and in ye manere as 
it has been vsed and customed before yis time, noght haue- 
yng wapen, careynge tapers of ye pagentz. 
Proclamation liy Mayor of York, 1394, quoted in 
(York Plays, Int., p. xxxiv. 
2. To give custom to; supply with customers. 
If a shoemaker should have no shoes in his shop, but only 
work as he is bespoken, he should be weakly customed. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, li. 219. 
3. To pay duty for at the custom-house. 
He hath more or lesse stolen from him that day they 
cuttmne the goods. llakluyt's Voyages, II. 237. 
H. intrans. To be accustomed ; be wont. 
For on a Bridge he ciistometh to fight. 
Spenser, K. Q., V. il. 7. 
customable (kus'tum-a-bl), . [< ME. custu- 
mable, < OF. costumable, couxtitmttble, custuma- 
ble, < eoxtiimer. custumer, custom : see custom, 
v., and -able.} If. Common; habitual; cus- 
tomary. 
Their trials and recoueries are . . . vpon customable law, 
which consisteth vm>on laudable customes. 
Lyly, Euphues and his England, it. 438. 
They use the customable adoruings of the country. 
Artif. Handsomeness, p. 39. 
2. Subject to the payment of the duties called 
customs ; dutiable. [Rare.] 
CUStomablenesS (kus'tum-a-bl-nes), n. Gen- 
eral use or practice; conformity to custom. 
[Rare.] 
customably (kus'tum-a-bli), adv. According 
to custom ; in a customary manner; habitually. 
[Obsolete or rare.] 
Some sortes will customably lye, but from such flye thou 
must. Babees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 101. 
True and lively zeale is cttstoiiMbly dispareg'd with the 
terme of indiscretion, hitternessc, and choler. 
Milton, Apology for Smectymiiuus. 
CUStomalt (kus'tum-al), . [< custom + -al.] A 
customary. Also spelled custumal. 
A Latine Custumall of the towne of Hyde. 
llakluyt's Voyayes, I. 19. 
A close re-examination of the Cttstumals or manuals of 
feudal rules, plentiful in French legal literature, led . . . 
to some highly interesting results. 
Maine, Early Hist, of Institutions, p. C. 
customarily (kus'tum-a-ri-li), adv. In a cus- 
tomary manner ; commonly; habitually. 
He underwent those previous pains which custtnnarily 
anteeede that suffering. Bp. Pearson, Expos, of Creed, iv. 
customariness(kus'tum-a-ri-nes),n. The qual- 
ity or state of being customary or usual ; habit- 
ual use or practice. 
A vice which for its guilt may justify the sharpest, and 
toritacustoiiiariiifxs the frequentest invectives which can 
be made against it. Government of the Tongue. 
customary (kus'tum-a-ri), a. and n. [< ME. cus- 
tomere, custom mere, < OF. costumier, eouxtumicr, 
F. coutumier, < ML. MMfMNorte, subject to tax 
(lit. pertaining to custom), < cutttuma, custom, 
etc.: see custom, n., and -ary?. Cf. customer.] 
1. a. 1. According to custom, or to established 
or common usage; wonted; usual: as, a cus- 
tomary dress; customary compliments. 
Tis not alone my inky cloak. u r "<"l mother, 
Nor cuxti'i/i'irii suit- of -.ilrtnn Mack. 
Shak., Hamlet, i. 2. 
It is <'<t*f ni'i :;: to cover the hands in the presence of a 
person "f high rank. K. It". Lane. Modern Egyptians, I. :)4. 
2. Consisting in or established on custom. 
Take Hereford's rii:lits away, ami take t'r Time 
His chartei-s and his i-tt<tuun-n riuhts. 
xhak.. Rich. II., ii. 1. 
custom-house 
3. Habitual; in common practice: as, cvstom- 
ii f ii vices. 
We should avoid the profane and irreverent use of God's 
name, liy cursing or customary swearing. Tillotui. 
4. In Kni/. Inir: (a) Holding by the custom 
of tlic> manor: us, ritxtuniiii'i/ tenants, who are 
copyholders, (b) Held by the custom of the 
manor: as, a cuxtomttry freehold. Customary 
court. See court. Customary freehold, a supi-nm 
kinil of copyhold, tile tenant (who is called a <'ii'l"imifu 
tenant) holding, as it is cxprcssi-il, liy copy of court roll, 
lint not at the will of the lord. Customary law. 
coHsitetwiituiri/. = 8yn. 1-3. Usual, Common, etc. (see 
/i nl, i l mi I); aci nstonicil, ordinary, conventional. 
II. n. ; pi. customariex (-riz). [ML. custuma- 
rius : see above.] A book or document con- 
taining a statement or account of the legal cus- 
toms and rights of a province, city, manor, etc. : 
as, the customary of N onnandy. Formerly also 
written custumary, costomary. 
A trew coppy of the Costomary of the manner of Tetten- 
hall Regis, eoppied out of one taken out of the Originall, 
the 22d of July 16U4. English Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. 4:cj. 
It was drawn from the old Germanic orOothickcuWiu/i- 
ary, from feudal institutions which must lie considered as 
an emanation from that custumary. 
lliir'lff, A Regicide Peace, I. 
customed (kus'tumd), a. [< custom + -ctft. Cf. 
accustomed.] Customary; usual; common; ac- 
customed.' See accustomed. [Rare.] 
No common wind, no customed event. 
Shale., K. John, ill. 4. 
One morn I missed him on the customed hill. 
Gray, Elegy. 
customer (kus'tum-er), . and a. [< OF. cos- 
tumier, coustumier, F. coutumier, < ML. custu- 
marius, a toll-gatherer, tax-collector, lit. per- 
taining to custom or customs, < custuma, cus- 
tom, tax, etc.: see custom. Cf. customary, which 
is a doublet of customer.] I. . It. A col- 
lector of customs; a toll-gatherer; a tax- 
gatherer. 
The said man-limit- doe alleage that the customers & 
bailifs of the town of Houthhampton do compel them to 
pay for every last of herrings . . . more than the kings 
ctisUmie. UaJcluyt's Voyayes, I. 173. 
The customer received the duties; the comptroller(con- 
trarotulator) enrolled the payments at the custom house, 
ami thus raised a charge against the customer ; while the 
searcher received from the customer and the comptroller 
tlie document authorising the landing of goods, which was 
termed the warrant, and, for exportation, the document 
authorising the shipment of goods, which was termed the 
cocket ; and thereupon allowed the goods mentioned in 
the document he received to be landed or shipped. 
5. Dowell, Taxes in England, I. 138. 
2. One who purchases goods or a supply for 
any current need from another ; a purchaser : 
a buyer; a patron, as of a house of entertain- 
ment. 
If you love yourselves, he you customers at this shop of 
heaven ; buy the truth. Bp. Hall, Best Bargain. 
3f. A prostitute. 
I marry! what? a customer! Shak., Othello, Iv. 1. 
4f. One who has special customs, as of the 
country or city. 
And such a country customer I did meet with once. 
Heylin, Cosmographie, Pref. 
5. Any one with whom a person has to deal ; 
especially, one with whom dealing is difficult or 
disagreeable ; hence, a fellow : as, a queer ctts- 
tomer; a rough customer. [Colloq.] 
Custmner for you ; rum customer, too. 
lliit/rer, Eugene Aram, i. 2. 
He must have been a hard hitter if he lioxed as he 
preached what "The Fancy" would call "an ugly cus- 
tomer." Dr. J. Brou-n, Rab, p. 6. 
U. a. 1. Being a customer or customers; pur- 
chasing; buying. 
Such must be her relation with the customer country in 
respect to the demand for each other's products. ./ . S. Mi' I. 
2. Made to the order of or for a customer; spe- 
cially ordered by a customer and made for him : 
opposed to ready-made, or made for the market 
generally: as, customer work. [Used chiefly in 
Scotland.] 
custom-house (kus'tum-hous),w. 1. A govern- 
mental office located at a point of exportation 
and importation, as a seaport, for the collection 
of customs, the clearance of vessels, etc. Ab- 
breviated C. H, 
This is the building which acted at once in the charac- 
ters of mint and cuxtom-house, the second character being 
set forth by its name wrought in nails on the great door. 
E. A. Freeimi/t. \ .-nice, p. 252. 
2. The whole governmental establishment by 
means of which the customs revenue is collect- 
ed and its regulations are enforced.- Custom- 
house broker, a person who acts for importers and ship- 
ow tiers in transacting their business at the custom-house. 
