1. plural of customhouse; government buildings where customs duties are collected and import/export documents are processed

Examples

• The merchant had to visit multiple customhouses along the trade route.
• Historic customhouses can be found in many old port cities.
• Ships must clear their cargo through the customhouses before unloading.
• The customhouses were busy processing imports from overseas.
• Many 19th-century customhouses have been converted into museums.
• Traders gathered outside the customhouses waiting for clearance.