IMPOST

impost. (fr) impost, tribute

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impost. Impost, n. a duty on goods laid at the time of importation and paid by the importer, any duty or tax, upper part of a pillar

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Im″post (?), n. [[OF. impost, F. impot, LL. impostus, fr. L. impostus, p. p. of imponere to impose. See Impone.]] 1. 1. That which is imposed or levied; a tax, tribute, or duty; especially, a duty or tax laid by goverment on goods imported into a country.
Even the ship money . . . Johnson could not pronounce to have been an unconstitutional impost. Macaulay. 2. 2. (Arch.) The top member of a pillar, pier, wall, etc., upon which the weight of an arch rests.
☞ The impost is called continuous, if the moldings of the arch or architrave run down the jamb or pier without a break. Syn. — Tribute; excise; custom; duty; tax.