Definition
Historically, a customs officer who waited or watched at coastal ports to collect duties and inspect goods arriving by sea.
Etymology
Compound of 'coast' and 'waiter' (one who waits/watches). This occupational term dates to the 17th-18th centuries when organized customs services emerged in England and other maritime nations.
Kelly Says
Coastwaiters were the original customs agents—their job was so unpopular they inspired anti-smuggling folklore and even protests, because people hated paying taxes on imported goods like tea and rum!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ቀረጥ አስተማሪ
ḳerɛtʰ āstəmārī
ARالعربية
جابي الجمارك
ʒɑːbi l-ʒumɑːrak
BNবাংলা
কাস্টম অফিসার
kastom ofisa
CSČeština
celní úředník
t͡sɛlɲiː uːɾɛdɲiːk
DADansk
toldbetjent
tɔlˀ.pɛt͡sɛnt
DEDeutsch
Zollwächter
t͡soːlˈvɛçtɐ
ELΕλληνικά
τελωνειακός
telōniai̯kós
ESEspañol
guardacostas
ɡwar.ðaˈkos.tas
FAفارسی
مأمور گمرک
mɑmūr-e gemrak
FISuomi
tullivirkamies
tulli.virkamies
FRFrançais
douanier
dwɑ.nje
GUGU
કસ્ટમ અધિકારી
kastam adhikārī
HAHA
jami'ai kasan ce
ʒɑmiː ɑi kasan t͡se
HEעברית
פקיד מכס
pakid makhs
HIहिन्दी
कस्टम अधिकारी
kastam adhikārī
HUMagyar
vámhatóság
vaːm.hɑtoːʃaːɡ
IDBahasa Indonesia
petugas bea cukai
pətʊɡas bəa t͡ʃʊkai
IGIG
ọfịsịa adụọ
o.fịsịa adụọ
ITItaliano
doganiere
doɡaˈnjɛːre
JA日本語
税関職員
zeikan shokuin
KKKK
кеден инспекторы
kedɛn inspektɔry
KMKM
មន្ត្រីអាជ្ញាធរ
mɔntɾi ʔaːcnɑtʰɔː
KO한국어
세관 직원
segwan jikwon
MRMR
कस्टम अधिकारी
kastam adhikārī
MSBahasa Melayu
pegawai kastam
pəɡɑwi kastam
MYမြန်မာ
ကုန်သွယ်ရေးအရာရှိ
kòuñ zwɛ́ lè ɛ̀ jà ʃì
NLNederlands
douanebeambte
doʊ.ɑnə.bɛɑmtə
NONorsk
tolltjenestemann
tɔl.tjɛnɛstɛman
PAPA
ਕਸਟਮ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ
kastam adhikārī
PLPolski
urzędnik celny
uʐɛdnik ˈt͡sɛlnɨ
PTPortuguês
guarda-costas
ɡwaɾ.ðaˈkɔs.tɐs
RUРусский
таможенный инспектор
tamоʐɛnɨj inspektor
SVSvenska
tulltjänsteman
tʉl.tjɛnstɛman
SWKiswahili
ofisa wa kodi
o.fisa wa kodi
TAதமிழ்
சுங்க அதிகாரி
cuŋka atikāri
TEతెలుగు
కస్టమ్స్ అధికారి
kastams adhikāri
THไทย
เจ้าหน้าที่ศุลกากร
t͡ɕɛːa.nʔaː.tʰiː sʉn.laː.kaːk
TLTL
opiser ng adwana
o.pisɛr ng adwana
TRTürkçe
gümrük memuru
ɡʏmɾʏk meˈmuɾu
UKУкраїнська
митний інспектор
mytnyj inspektor
URاردو
کاسٹم افسر
kāstam afsar
VITiếng Việt
nhân viên hải quan
ŋəˀɨən viən hɑːi kwɑn
YOYO
ọfiṣa adúọ
o.fiṣa adúọ
ZH中文
海关人员
hǎi guān rén yuán
ZUZU
ofisi ya khasi
o.fisi ya khasi
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Historical customs enforcement role; '-waiter' compounds with gendered assumptions about labor, though less explicit than '-man' forms.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'customs official,' 'coastal customs officer,' or 'revenue officer' for clarity and inclusion.
Inclusive Alternatives
["customs officer","coastal customs official","revenue officer"]
Empowerment Note
Women have served in customs and revenue enforcement; modern terminology should reflect their equal role.