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dogana

customs, customs house

noun doh-GAH-nah Rare

Origin: Arabic diwan (register, office)

Usage Note

Dogana refers both to the customs authority and the physical customs office at a border or port. The officer is il doganiere. The phrase passare la dogana means to go through customs. Italian borrowed the word from Arabic dīwān in the medieval Mediterranean — the same root that gave divano.

Examples

"Abbiamo aspettato un'ora alla dogana."

Natural Translation

We waited an hour at customs.

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