Dictionary-Definition.com :: Merchant definition

Definition of 'merchant'

noun

A businessperson engaged in retail trade [syn: merchant, merchandiser]

From: GCIDE

Merchant \Mer"chant\, a. Of, pertaining to, or employed in, trade or merchandise; as, the merchant service. [1913 Webster]
Merchant bar, Merchant iron or Merchant steel, certain common sizes of wrought iron and steel bars.
Merchant service or Merchant marine, 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. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Merchant \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. [1913 Webster]
Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. A trading vessel; a merchantman. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. One who keeps a store or shop for the sale of goods; a shopkeeper. [U. S. & Scot.] [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Merchant The Hebrew word so rendered is from a root meaning "to travel about," "to migrate," and hence "a traveller." In the East, in ancient times, merchants travelled about with their merchandise from place to place (Gen. 37:25; Job 6:18), and carried on their trade mainly by bartering (Gen. 37:28; 39:1). After the Hebrews became settled in Palestine they began to engage in commercial pursuits, which gradually expanded (49:13; Deut. 33:18; Judg. 5:17), till in the time of Solomon they are found in the chief marts of the world (1 Kings 9:26; 10:11, 26, 28; 22:48; 2 Chr. 1:16; 9:10, 21). After Solomon's time their trade with foreign nations began to decline. After the Exile it again expanded into wider foreign relations, because now the Jews were scattered in many lands.