Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

R'egie \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.