Merchant

Merchant

Noun / Adjective · /ˈmɜː.tʃənt/

Definition

(Noun) a person or company that buys and sells goods professionally; a trader, especially one who trades in goods wholesale or internationally; a retailer; (informal, British) a person who deals in or is known for a particular activity (speed merchant, doom merchant); (Adjective) relating to trade or commercial shipping (merchant navy, merchant vessel).

Origin

From Old French marcheant (merchant, trader), from Popular Latin mercatantem (trading), from Latin mercari (to trade), from merx (goods, merchandise). The same merx root gives merchandise, mercenary, commerce, market, and mercy. The word has been in English since the 13th century. Merchant cities — Venice, Genoa, Florence, Bruges, Amsterdam — built the medieval and early modern world economy.