\R['e]`gie"\, n. [F.]
1. Direct management of public finance or public works by
   agents of the government for government account; --
   opposed to the {contract system}.

2. Specif.: The system of collecting taxes by officials who
   have either no interest or a very small interest in the
   proceeds, as distinguished from the ancient system of
   farming them out.

3. Any kind of government monopoly (tobacco, salt, etc.) used
   chiefly as a means of taxation. Such monopolies are
   largely employed in Austria, Italy, France, and Spain.