noun
- (in the 19th century) a union of German states for the maintenance of a uniform tariff on imports from other countries, and of free trading among themselves.
- any similar union or arrangement between a number of states; customs union.
noun
- the customs union of German states organized in the early 1830s under Prussian auspices
1843, German, literally “customs union,” from Zoll “toll” (see toll (n.)) + Verein “union,” from vereinen “to unite,” from ver- + ein “one” (see one).