tariff

Where does the word "tariff" come from? It comes from Arabic taʿrīf, passing through Italian and French before entering English (c. 1590s).

Tariff’s story begins in Arabic: taʿrīf meant “notification, definition.” Originally meant a notification or definition of terms. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as tariffa. Used at Mediterranean ports for official lists of duties owed. From there it passed into French as tarif by c. 1500s. Adopted for schedules of customs charges. It reached English by c. 1590s as tariff. Settled as the term for a tax on imported goods. Today, tariff means a tax imposed by a government on imported or exported goods.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval taʿrīf "notification, definition", originally meant a notification or definition of terms.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval tariffa "a list of prices or duties", used at Mediterranean ports for official lists of duties owed.
3. Stage 3 · French · c. 1500s tarif "a price or duty list", adopted for schedules of customs charges.
4. Stage 4 · English · c. 1590s tariff "a tax on imported goods", settled as the term for a tax on imported goods.