n.
- a person involved in wholesale trade.
▸chiefly N. Amer. a retail trader.
- informal a person who deals in something unpleasant.
▸
derogatory a person with a liking for a particular activity:
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a speed merchant.
adj.
(of ships, sailors, or shipping activity) involved with commerce.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. marchant, based on L. mercari ‘to trade’, from merx, merc- ‘merchandise’.
