"tax on goods," late 15c., from M.Du. excijs, apparently altered from accijs "tax" (by influence of L. excisus "cut out or removed," see excise (v.)), traditionally from O.Fr. acceis "tax, assessment," from V.L. *accensum, ultimately from L. ad- "to" + census "tax, census." English got the word, and the idea for the tax, from Holland.