impost

  1. Noun.  a tax, tariff or duty etc. that is imposed. Unlike taxes, tariffs, or duties, the primary purpose of an impost is to dissuade countries from discriminating against the imports or shipping of other nations. If the trade is non-discriminatory, then no impost is generally levied. It is therefore not intended as a revenue source, but rather as a way to regulate commerce.
  2. Noun.  the weight that must be carried by a horse in a race, the handicap.
  3. Noun.  the top part of a column or pillar that supports an arch.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.