Merchant | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Mēr’chant, n.

noun

n. [O. Eng. marchant, O. Fr. marcheant, marchant, N. Fr. marchand, Sp. merchante, It. mercante, mercatante, from Lat. mercans, p. pr. of mercari, to trade, traffic, L. Lat. mercatus, p. pr. of mercatare, to negotiate.] 1. One who traffics or carries on trade, especially upon a large scale; one who buys goods to sell again; any one who is engaged in the purchase and sale of goods; a trafficker; a trader. Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad. Shak. 2. A ship in trade; a trading vessel; a merchantman. [Obs.]

Měr'chant, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. To trade. [Obs.]

Měr'chant, a.

adjective

a. Pertaining to, or employed in, trade or merchandise; as, the merchant service.

Merchant bar, certain common sizes of wrought iron and steel bars. See IRON. — Merchant service, the mercantile marine of a country. Simmonds. — Merchant tailor, a tailor who keeps and sells materials for the garments made by him.