Mer"chant , v. i. To be a merchant; to trade. [Obs.]
Mer"chant , a. Of, pertaining to, or employed in, trade or merchandise; as, the merchant service.
Merchant bar, Merchant iron or steel, certain common sizes of wrought iron and steel bars. -- Merchant service,
the mercantile marine of a country. Am. Cyc. --
Merchant ship,
a ship employed in commerce. -- Merchant tailor, a tailor who
keeps and sells materials for the garments which he makes.
Mer"chant (?), n. [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.]
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.]
Hear it pronounced