n. [ F. or It. custode, fr. L. custos, -odis. ] See Custodian. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. custodial, fr. L. custodia. See Custody. ] Relating to custody or guardianship. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Custody. ] One who has care or custody, as of some public building; a keeper or superintendent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Office or duty of a custodian. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. LL. custodiarus. ] A custodian. [ Scot. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. custodia, fr. custos guard; prob. akin to Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to hide, and E. hide. Seee Hide to cover. ] 1. A keeping or guarding; care, watch, inspection, for keeping, preservation, or security. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fleet of thirty ships for the custody of the narrow seas. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Judicial or penal safe-keeping. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jailer, take him to thy custody. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. State of being guarded and watched to prevent escape; restraint of liberty; confinement; imprisonment. [ 1913 Webster ]

What pease will be given
To us enslaved, but custody severe,
And stripes and arbitrary punishment? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To pay the customs of. [ Obs. ] Marlowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. coustume, F. coutume, tax, i. e., the usual tax. See 1st Custom. ] 1. The customary toll, tax, or tribute. [ 1913 Webster ]

Render, therefore, to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom. Rom. xiii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. Duties or tolls imposed by law on commodities, imported or exported. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To have a custom. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

On a bridge he custometh to fight. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. custume, costume, Anglo-Norman coustome, F. coutume, fr. (assumed) LL. consuetumen custom, habit, fr. L. consuetudo, -dinis, fr. consuescere to accustom, verb inchoative fr. consuere to be accustomed; con- + suere to be accustomed, prob. originally, to make one's own, fr. the root of suus one's own; akin to E. so, adv. Cf. Consuetude, Costume. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Frequent repetition of the same act; way of acting common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; usage; method of doing or living. [ 1913 Webster ]

And teach customs which are not lawful. Acts xvi. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

Moved beyond his custom, Gama said. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

A custom
More honored in the breach than the observance. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a shop, manufactory, etc., for making purchases or giving orders; business support. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let him have your custom, but not your votes. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent; usage. See Usage, and Prescription. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Usage is a fact. Custom is a law. There can be no custom without usage, though there may be usage without custom. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Familiar aquaintance; familiarity. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Age can not wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Custom of merchants, a system or code of customs by which affairs of commerce are regulated. --
General customs, those which extend over a state or kingdom. --
Particular customs, those which are limited to a city or district; as, the customs of London.

Syn. -- Practice; fashion. See Habit, and Usage. [ 1913 Webster ]