- revenue
- 1433, "income from property or possessions," from M.Fr. revenue, from O.Fr., "a return," prop. fem. pp. of revenir "come back," from L. revenire "return, come back," from re- "back" + venire "come" (see venue). Meaning "public income" is first recorded 1690. Revenuer "U.S. Department of Revenue agent," the bane of Appalachian moonshiners, first attested 1880.