tariff
    n 1: a government tax on imports or exports; "they signed a
         treaty to lower duties on trade between their countries"
         [syn: duty, tariff]
    v 1: charge a tariff; "tariff imported goods"

Tariff \Tar"iff\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tariffed; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Tariffing.]
   To make a list of duties on, as goods.
   [1913 Webster]

Tariff \Tar"iff\, n. [F. tarif; cf. Sp. & Pg. tarifa, It.
   tariffa; all fr. Ar. ta'r[imac]f information, explanation,
   definition, from 'arafa, to know, to inform, explain.]
   1. A schedule, system, or scheme of duties imposed by the
      government of a country upon goods imported or exported;
      as, a revenue tariff; a protective tariff; Clay's
      compromise tariff. (U. S. 1833).
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: The United States and Great Britain impose no duties on
         exports; hence, in these countries the tariff refers
         only to imports.
         [1913 Webster]

   Note: A tariff may be imposed solely for, and with reference
         to, the production of revenue (called a

   revenue tariff, or

   tariff for revenue, or for the artificial fostering of home
      industries (

   a projective tariff), or as a means of coercing foreign
      governments, as in case of

   retaliatory tariff.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   2. The duty, or rate of duty, so imposed; as, the tariff on
      wool; a tariff of two cents a pound.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Any schedule or system of rates, changes, etc.; as, a
      tariff of fees, or of railroad fares. --Bolingbroke.
      [1913 Webster]

TARIFF. Customs, duties, toll. or tribute payable upon merchandise to the 
general government is called tariff; the rate of customs, &c. also bears 
this name and the list of articles liable to duties is also called the 
tariff. 
     2. For the tariff of duties imposed on the importation of foreign 
merchandise into the United States. 

TARIFF, n.  A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the
domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.

    The Enemy of Human Souls
    Sat grieving at the cost of coals;
    For Hell had been annexed of late,
    And was a sovereign Southern State.

    "It were no more than right," said he,
    "That I should get my fuel free.
    The duty, neither just nor wise,
    Compels me to economize --
    Whereby my broilers, every one,
    Are execrably underdone.
    What would they have? -- although I yearn
    To do them nicely to a turn,
    I can't afford an honest heat.
    This tariff makes even devils cheat!
    I'm ruined, and my humble trade
    All rascals may at will invade:
    Beneath my nose the public press
    Outdoes me in sulphureousness;
    The bar ingeniously applies
    To my undoing my own lies;
    My medicines the doctors use
    (Albeit vainly) to refuse
    To me my fair and rightful prey
    And keep their own in shape to pay;
    The preachers by example teach
    What, scorning to perform, I teach;
    And statesmen, aping me, all make
    More promises than they can break.
    Against such competition I
    Lift up a disregarded cry.
    Since all ignore my just complaint,
    By Hokey-Pokey!  I'll turn saint!"
    Now, the Republicans, who all
    Are saints, began at once to bawl
    Against _his_ competition; so
    There was a devil of a go!
    They locked horns with him, tete-a-tete
    In acrimonious debate,
    Till Democrats, forlorn and lone,
    Had hopes of coming by their own.
    That evil to avert, in haste
    The two belligerents embraced;
    But since 'twere wicked to relax
    A tittle of the Sacred Tax,
    'Twas finally agreed to grant
    The bold Insurgent-protestant
    A bounty on each soul that fell
    Into his ineffectual Hell.
                                                            Edam Smith