revenuer

In Appalachian speech, a "revenuer" is a government agent sent to catch illegal moonshiners and destroy their stills.

#SouthernWords   #Appalachia

Pronunciation

[REV-uh-noor]

Meaning & Usage

- Government agent enforcing liquor laws (noun)

Elmer:
Heard tell the revenuers are comin’ up the holler.
Estel:
Best hide that mash ‘fore they git here.
other spellings: revenue agent, revenue man, revenooer, and revenoor
★ If you spot a revenuer, you’re already late putting the still in the creek. ★

Origin

From "revenue," referring to U.S. government agents in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (now the IRS) who enforced liquor tax laws. During Prohibition and beyond, revenuers patrolled rural areas to locate and shut down illegal stills.

Notes

"Revenuer" is tied to Appalachian and Southern moonshine culture, often appearing in old stories, songs, and movies. Variants like "revenooer" reflect the way it’s pronounced in fast speech.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

What did revenuers do?
They searched for illegal stills, destroyed equipment, and arrested moonshiners to enforce liquor tax laws.
Are revenuers still around?
Not in the same way. Modern alcohol enforcement is handled by agencies like the ATF and state liquor control.
Why were they called revenuers?
Because they worked for the revenue service, ensuring taxes were collected on alcohol.
Is "revenuer" always negative?
In moonshiner circles, yes - it meant trouble. In other contexts, it’s just a historical job title.
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