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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