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gabelle
guh-BEL
noun
a tax on salt
1892Edward J. LowellThe Eve of the French RevolutionThe first and most dreaded of the indirect taxes was the Salt Tax (gabelle). As salt is necessary for all, it has from early days been considered by some governments a good article for a tax, no one being able to escape payment by going entirely without it. To make the revenue more secure, every householder in certain parts of France was obliged to buy seven pounds of salt a year at the warehouses of the Farm, for every member of his family more than seven years old.1895Gustave le BonThe Crowd: Study of Popular MindThe 'taille' or tallage has become the land tax; the 'gabelle,' the tax on salt; the 'aids,' the indirect contributions and the consolidated duties; the tax on trade companies and guilds, the license, &c.1897William KirbyThe Golden Dog'Come, Varin! your turn now!' cried Bigot, turning to the Commissary; 'a toast for Ville Marie! Merry Montreal! where they eat like rats of Poitou, and drink till they ring the fire-bells, as the Bordelais did to welcome the collectors of the gabelle.

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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