01 n. 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.
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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.
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2.
The top member of a pillar, pier, wall, etc., upon which the weight of an arch rests.(Arch.)