gabelle

noun

ga·​belle gə-ˈbel 

: a tax on salt levied in France prior to 1790

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gabell, borrowed from Middle French gabelle, going back to Old French, "tax on certain commodities," borrowed from Italian gabella, borrowed from Arabic qabāla "tribute," derivative of qabila "receive"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above