customer

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English custumer, from Old French coustumier, costumier (compare modern French coutumier), from Medieval Latin custumarius (“a toll-gatherer, tax-collector”, noun), from custumarius (“pertaining to custom or customs”, adjective), from custuma (“custom, tax”). More at custom. By surface analysis, custom +‎ -er. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkʌs.tə.mə/ (GA.CA) IPA(key): /ˈkʌs.tə.mɚ/ (Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈkɐs.tə.mə/ === Noun === customer (plural customers) (obsolete) A habitual patron, regular purchaser, returning client; a person or company who has a custom of buying from a particular business. A person or company who purchases or receives a product or service from a business or merchant or intends to do so. Synonyms: patron, client, solicitor (informal) A person, especially one engaging in some sort of interaction with others. a cool customer, a tough customer, an ugly customer (India, historical) A native official who exacted customs duties. 1609, Danvers, Letters, i. 25; and comp. Foster, ibid. ii. 225 His houses […] are seized on by the Customer. 1682, Hedges, Diary [Hak. Soc. i. 33] The several affronts, insolences, and abuses dayly put upon us by Boolchund, our chief Customer ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === costumer, suctomer == Middle English == === Noun === customer alternative form of custumer