[kuhs-tuh
m] 
| 1. | a habitual practice; the usual way of acting in given circumstances. |
| 2. | habits or usages collectively; convention. |
| 3. | a practice so long established that it has the force of law. |
| 4. | such practices collectively. |
| 5. | Sociology. a group pattern of habitual activity usually transmitted from one generation to another. |
| 6. | toll; duty. |
| 7. | customs,
|
| 8. | regular patronage of a particular shop, restaurant, etc. |
| 9. | the customers or patrons of a business firm, collectively. |
| 10. | the aggregate of customers. |
| 11. | (in medieval Europe) a customary tax, tribute, or service owed by peasants to their lord. |
| 12. | made specially for individual customers: custom shoes. |
| 13. | dealing in things so made, or doing work to order: a custom tailor. |
| cus·tom (kŭs'təm) n.
[Middle English custume, from Old French costume, from Latin cōnsuētūdō, cōnsuētūdin-, from cōnsuētus, past participle of cōnsuēscere, to accustom : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + suēscere, to become accustomed; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots.] |
custom
(Or "bespoke") An adjective describing any product that is special in some way, individually created for a specific user or system, as opposed to generic or off-the-shelf.
(2008-06-25)
Custom
a tax imposed by the Romans. The tax-gatherers were termed publicans (q.v.), who had their stations at the gates of cities, and in the public highways, and at the place set apart for that purpose, called the "receipt of custom" (Matt.9: 9; Mark 2:14), where they collected the money that was to be paid on certain goods (Matt.17:25). These publicans were tempted to exact more from the people than was lawful, and were, in consequence of their extortions, objects of great hatred. The Pharisees would have no intercourse with them (Matt.5:46, 47; 9:10, 11). A tax or tribute (q.v.) of half a shekel was annually paid by every adult Jew for the temple. It had to be paid in Jewish coin (Matt. 22:17-19; Mark 12:14, 15). Money-changers (q.v.) were necessary, to enable the Jews who came up to Jerusalem at the feasts to exchange their foreign coin for Jewish money; but as it was forbidden by the law to carry on such a traffic for emolument (Deut. 23:19, 20), our Lord drove them from the temple (Matt. 21:12: Mark 11:15).