merchant Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a businessperson engaged in retail trade
    merchandiser.

WordNet

Mer"chant noun
Etymology
OE. marchant, OF. marcheant, F. marchand, fr. LL. mercatans, -antis, p. pr. of mercatare to negotiate, L. mercari to traffic, fr. merx, mercis, wares. See Market, Merit, and cf. Commerce.
Definitions
  1. One who traffics on a large scale, especially with foreign countries; a trafficker; a trader.
    Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad. Shak.
  2. A trading vessel; a merchantman. Obs. Shak.
  3. One who keeps a store or shop for the sale of goods; a shopkeeper. U. S. & Scot.
Mer"chant adjective
Definitions
  1. Of, pertaining to, or employed in, trade or merchandise; as, the merchant service.
Mer"chant intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be a merchant; to trade. Obs.

Webster 1913