merchant English · revision 8046

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la mercor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɜːtʃənt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈmɝt͡ʃənt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English marchaunt, [[bor|xno|marchaunt|t=merchant, shopkeeper]], Old French marcheant,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Vulgar Latin *mercatantem, a buyer, present participle of *mercatare,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a frequentative of Latin [[m|la|mercor|alt=mercārī|t=to trade, deal in]] (see [[market]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who buys and sells commodities for profit: probably about 1200 in Barnhart, the early 13th century in Etymonline, about 1290 in the OED; as a surname from the late 12th century.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A shopkeeper is from 1362, now only Scottish, northern dialect and American.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023) In the Wycliffe Bible it was used to mistranslate Latin mercenarius, hireling (1382).^(OED 1989) The adjective, relating to trade, is from about 1400.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) A fellow or chap is from the 1540s,^(Etymonline) and with a qualifier, one who deals in something, such as a ''speed merchant'' (by 1914) or ''gossip merchant'', is often derogatory.^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) ''To play the merchant with'', to cheat, is from 1593.^(OED 1989) In Scots a merchant was also a buyer or customer (1673).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – a trader.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1362 – a shopkeeper.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – the adjective.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540s – a fellow, chap.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1914 – speed merchant.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who buys and sells goods for profit, especially in international [[trade]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chiefly US)'' A shopkeeper or retailer.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal, derogatory)'' A person who deals in something undesirable: ''a gossip merchant''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to trade, or to the [[merchant navy]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[merchantlike]]

+ * [[merchantable]]

+ * [[merchantman]]

+ * [[feather merchant]]

+ * [[law merchant]]

+ * [[merchant bank]]

+ * [[merchant flag]]

+ * [[merchant marine]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mercantile]]

+ * [[merchandise]]

+ * [[market]]

+ * [[mercenary]]

+ * [[commerce]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}