Merchant

mėr′chant, n. one who carries on trade, esp. on a large scale: one who buys and sells goods: a trader: ( obs. ) a supercargo: a merchant-ve el.— adj. pertaining to trade or merchandise.— v.i. Merch′and ( Bacon ), to trade or traffic.— n. Mer′chandīse , goods bought and sold for gain: ( B. and Shak. ) trade: dealing.— adjs. Mer′chantable , suitable for sale: inferior to the very best, but suitable for ordinary purposes; Mer′chant-like ( Shak. ), like a merchant.— ns. Mer′chantman , a trading-ship: ( B. ) a merchant:— pl. Mer′chantmen ; Mer′chantry , the busine of a merchant; merchants collectively.— Merchant prince , one who has made a great fortune as a merchant; Merchant service , the ships, ., engaged in commerce: the commerce which is carried on by sea; Merchant ship or ve el , a ship used for carrying goods; Merchant tailor , a tailor who supplies the cloth for the clothes which he makes. [Fr. march and .]