| 释义 |
merchantn.adj. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French marchand. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French marchand, marchant, marchaunt, marcheand, marcheant, merchand, merchant, mercheant (mid 12th cent. as noun, late 12th cent. as adjective; Middle French, French marchand ; compare also Anglo-Norman mercant , marchun , Old French (Picardy) marcaant (c1220), merqeant (c1245)), earlier in Old French as marchedant , noun (c1000) < post-classical Latin *mercatant- , present participial stem of *mercatare (compare Old Occitan mercadar (c1140), Italian (arch.) mercatare (c1257)), a frequentative derived < classical Latin mercārī to buy, to trade (see market n.). Compare Old Occitan mercadan (noun, c1200), mercadant (noun, 1370), Italian (arch.) mercatante (noun, a1243), Spanish (arch.) mercadante (noun, 1490). Compare also Italian mercante (a1300; compare Spanish mercante (15th cent.)), use as noun of present participle of mercare to buy (c1400; compare Spanish mercar (c1250)) < classical Latin mercārī (see market n.).In adjectival use, sometimes as postmodifier after post-classical Latin or Anglo-Norman (now only in set phrases, compare guild merchant n. at guild n. Compounds 2, law-merchant n.). With merchant town compare post-classical Latin villa marcanda (from 12th cent. in British sources), villa mercanda , villa mercata , villa mercatoria (from 13th cent. in British sources), Anglo-Norman vile marchaunde , Middle French, French ville marchande (c1410). With merchant ship compare Old French nef marcheande (12th cent.), Middle French navire marchande (15th cent.); with merchant fleet compare French flotte marchande (1835). Earlier use as a postmodifier in sense B. 1 is perhaps implied by the place name Wycombe Marchaunt (1340; 1478 as Chepingwycomb (compare cheaping n.); now High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire), although it is unclear whether this is to be interpreted as showing the Middle English or the Anglo-Norman word. Variation between mer- and mar- in Anglo-Norman and Old French results from lowering of e to a before r (see further M. K. Pope From Latin to Mod. French (1934) 187-8); a parallel tendency occurs in late Middle English and would have led to borrowed forms in mar- being further supplemented by forms resulting from the normal late Middle English lowering of mer- to mar-. The expected form in modern standard English would be marchant, which is attested regionally (compare also the surname Marchant). The post-medieval predominance of forms in mer- (as opposed to mar-) is probably largely a result of etymological respelling; the modern pronunciation is probably originally a spelling-pronunciation (E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §66 notes that most of the 16th- and 17th-cent. orthoepists who mention the word record pronunciations in ă). Attested as a surname in England from the late 12th cent., compare Simon Mercand (1198), Roger Marchaunt, Herueus Merchant (1219), Alanus le Marchant (1220), though it is unclear whether these are to be interpreted as Middle English or Anglo-Norman. A. n. 1. society > trade and finance > trader > merchant > [noun] c1225 Worcester Glosses to Old Eng. Homilies in (1928) 52 25 Mangere : marchaunt. c1300 St. Francis (Laud) 2 in C. Horstmann (1887) 53 (MED) Marchaunt he was in his ȝonghede. c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 1543 Marchaunt icham, y wis, Mi schip liþ here bi side. c1380 (1879) 4345 Ryȝt as marchantȝ wille we ryde. a1400 (Pepys) (1976) 54 Þe Marchante ne ȝiueþ no keep to þe scheep. ?a1425 (c1400) (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 81 Thider comen the marchauntes with marchandise be see. 1474 W. Caxton tr. (1883) iii. iv. 107 The marchans of cloth lynnen and wollen. a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in (2002) i. 189 Marchaundes & Franklonȝ..may be set semely at a squyers table. a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in (1557) 51/2 What wise merchaunt aduentureth all his good in one ship? a1544 H. Latimer Let. in J. Foxe (1563) 1332/1 Maruphus,..an Italian, (and in times paste a Merchaunte of dispensations). 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1895) II. 252 Jn the meine tyme our Marchantes, quha feiret na Jll,..sayled (in haist) to France. 1631 J. Weever 341 He is properly called a Marchant, qui mare trajicit, who passeth ouer the Seas, et merces inde avehit, and from thence transports merchandise. c1660 J. Evelyn anno 1644 (1955) II. 174 The Marchands being prodigiously rich, have..no extent of ground to employ their Estates in. 1723 D. Defoe (ed. 2) 390 The Merchants of Mexico, to whom those Cargoes were separately Consign'd, made the Return..all in Silver, or in Gold. 1776 A. Smith II. iv. viii. 273 I have classed artificers, manufacturers and merchants, among the productive labourers. View more context for this quotation 1847 A. S. Mayhew & H. Mayhew xii. 183 If three barges and one wagon make a coalheaver, I should like to know what makes a merchant. 1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato (ed. 2) III. 242 The importers and exporters, who are called merchants. 1881 R. G. White xvi. 387 He was not a merchant. He had never been engaged in foreign trade. 1910 I. 569/1 [Alexandria] is the headquarters of the British chamber of commerce and of most of the merchants and companies engaged in the development of the Delta. 1981 M. Moorcock iii. 55 My Uncle Semyon was a respectable merchant, for instance, trading with dozens of foreign countries through his shipping office. society > armed hostility > military equipment > arming or equipping with weapons > [noun] > arms dealer society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by type of service > [noun] > mercenary a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 28031 Yee leuedis..Quen yee sa bede your war to sell, þe fole marchandis eth to duell. a1450 (a1400) (BL Add.) (1921) 393 (MED) Now was Iudas marchaunt vnwys To selle þat lord for so lytel pris. a1538 T. Starkey (1989) 109 We may by al thyng of god who ys the only marchant of al thyng that ys gud. 1626 F. Bacon New Atlantis 44 in These wee call Merchants of Light. 1818 P. B. Shelley 625 Until the exchange Ruins the merchants of such thriftless trade. 1834 W. H. Ainsworth II. iii. v. 344 My father..Was a merchant of capers gay, Who cut his last fling with great applause. 1934 H. C. Engelbrecht & F. C. Hanighen xviii. 261 Governments are everywhere drawing closer the ties which bind them in a virtual partnership with the merchants of death. 1974 D. Seaman xi. 98 Inflation would hit a merchant of death as much as any working man. 1999 (Nexis) 27 July a10 Describing marijuana growers as merchants of misery is laughable. society > trade and finance > selling > seller > [noun] > shopkeeper c1400 (a1376) W. Langland (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. ii. 174 Marchauntis [v.r. marchaundis, marchande; c1400 C text marchauns]..Besshette hym in here shoppis to shewen here ware. 1609 in (N. Riding Rec. Soc.) (1884) I. 15 Will. Foreste of Midleham [presented] for useinge the trade of a marchant, not having served, &c. 1704 S. Knight 7 Oct. (1825) 42 [The Indians] give the title of merchant to every trader. 1784 J. F. D. Smyth I. 99 Linen-drapers, grocers, stationers, &c. are not known here; they are all comprehended in the single name and occupation of merchant, or store-keeper. 1798 6 437 In Scotland every little retail shopkeeper is dignified with the title of merchant. 1853 Aug. 425/1 The subject, we take it, is the ‘merchant’ of a country-store; quite a different variety from the big bugs of the trade in the Great Metropolis. 1897 J. L. Allen i. 5 A heavy roll of home-spun linen, which she was taking to town to her aunt's merchant as barter for queen's-ware pitchers. 1924 Aug. 342 The merchan's in an awfu' ill teen the day, swearin' like a' that. 1975 ‘E. Lathen’ xiii. 129 An ancient panama..part of the summer uniform demanded of city merchants. 1994 P. Grescoe 16 I just had to play to a convention of retail merchants in a relaxed setting. society > trade and finance > trader > agent or broker > [noun] > one who takes or makes out orders 1450 in H. J. Smit (1928) I. 880 We exhort yhou effecteusli, that yhe will serch..quhare the said gudis ar, and mak thaime be deliverit to oure marchande,..in oure naime. 1552 Abp. J. Hamilton 99 Quha..begylis him [sc. his neighbour] at his marchandis hand. 1600 B. Jonson ii. i. sig. Fivv Signior Deliro her husband is my Merchant. society > trade and finance > selling > seller > [noun] > itinerant or pedlar 1572 R. Sempill (single sheet) We Merchandis all that with our Merchand pakkis Did trauell ay, fra Towne to Towne, to Fairis. 1597 in S. Ree (1908) II. 61 The haill inhabitantis..to buy catecheis as lang as the merchantis ar in the toun. 1665 Cullen Kirk Session Rec. 6 Aug. in (at cited word) Given to a poor merchant whose pack was robed from him..30s. 1722 R. Wodrow II. 265 James Robertson was Merchant in Stonehouse..This..Person used to travel up and down the Country with a Pack. 1754 E. Burt I. iv. 77 A Pedling Shop-keeper, that sells a Pennyworth of Thread, is a Merchant. 1794 W. Farquhar 181 Like a leel Merchan' I'll gae lift my packs. 1809 W. Irving II. vii. x. 251 If peradventure some straggling merchant of the east, should stop at his door with his cart load of tin ware or wooden bowls, [etc.]. society > trade and finance > buying > buyer > [noun] > customer or client 1673 in Fountainhall's Decisions in M. P. Brown (1826) III. 34 Esto the horse had been insufficient, sibi imputet, his eye being his merchant. 1721 J. Kelly 21 A toom Purse makes a bleat Merchant. 1835 J. Monteath 71 His aid and assistance in procuring merchants for the goods. 1884 D. Grant 83 There wis na want o' merchan's Eager for her hert an' han'. 1903 IV. 90/2 Have ye found a merchant for your horse? c1930 in (1965) (at cited word) It's guid gear that pleases the merchant. society > authority > subjection > service > servant > types of servant > [noun] > hireling c1384 (Douce 369(2)) John x. 12 A marchaunt, or hyred hyne [L. Mercennarius]..that is not schepherde..seeth a wolf comynge, and he leeueth..the scheep. c1450 (Harl. 6580) (1933) 8 Ther sues a gude exhortacion that spekez..of merchandes [v.r. mercenariis] of curates, [etc.]. 3. colloquial. the world > people > person > man > [noun] 1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus II. 2 Cor. x. f. lx Beare this muche with my foolyshenesse..that synce these marchauntes..so much crake of themselues, that I may also somewhat glorye of my selfe. 1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace sig. Dvjv A giddie marchaunte I. 1573 G. Harvey (1884) 52 Marchant and marchant were too quiet and soft words for them. 1576 A. Fleming tr. Isocrates in 155 You had flatterers and mealemouthed merchants in high estimation. 1606 G. Chapman iii. sig. D4v Nay good vnkle now, sbloud, what captious marchants you be. 1610 G. Carleton vii. 172 The King to hold fast this slippery Merchant, required all the Bishops to set to their..seales to those Lawes. 1886 17 Oct. 2/3 The success of ‘Indiana’ mainly depends upon the extravagant humours of the chief low-comedy merchant. 1909 J. R. Ware 175/2 The theatre coming to be called the ‘shop’, actors dubbed themselves ‘merchants’, qualified by their line. 1914 246/2 It may be that when the new road has been built the speed merchant and the road~hog..may pay their money and betake themselves to their favourite seaside haunt at any speed they like. 1919 J. Buchan ix. 176 Some movie-merchant had got a graft with the Government, and troops had been turned out to make a war film. 1929 A. Conan Doyle 244 Storr, the googlie merchant, had a better showing with four for ninety-six. 1933 D. L. Sayers xviii. 316 He was now faced by the merchant with the off-break. The first two balls he treated carefully. 1970 D. Francis vi. 83 Here is this bloody bomb merchant running around loose with no one knowing what he'll do next. 1971 G. Sims ii. iii. 97 Sorry to be such a gloom merchant. But..we're broke, you see. 1990 11 Aug. 5/2 Anthrax, the New York Thrash merchants, have been confirmed as support on Iron Maiden's UK shows. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > trading vessel > [noun] 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay i. iv [The pirates] lye in wayte thereabouts to entrap..merchauntes comming thyther too lade salte. 1590 C. Marlowe sig. Bv And Christian Merchants that with Russian stems Plow vp huge furrowes in the Caspian sea. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. i. 5 Some Saylors wife, The Masters of some Merchant, and the Merchant Haue iust our Theame of woe. View more context for this quotation 1709 No. 4533/2 The Enemy took 9 of the Merchants. 1740 S. Johnson Life Admiral Blake in June 305/1 A Fleet of Merchants under his Convoy. 1899 R. Kipling (1903) 8 The pot-bellied merchant foreboding no wrong With headlight and side~light he lieth along. 1905 J. Masefield 65 There's a fat merchant on the coast... We're going out for her. society > trade and finance > trader > agent or broker > [noun] > for ships > supercargo 1594–1602 f. 73 Reseuet for my ly [i.e. lii or 52] dayes of my marchant ine the Rochell xii crounis. 1614 W. Raleigh i. iv. ii. §18. 204 Hee..pretending the death of his Marchant, besought the French..that they might burie their Marchant in hallowed ground. 1681 R. Knox iv. i. 118 My Father the Captain ordered me with Mr. John Loveland, Merchant of the Ship, to go on shore. 1682 in T. C. Smout (1963) 294 Roger Lawrie..is to goe merchand in the said ship to Dansick. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > stone fruit > plum > other types of 1602 T. Dekker sig. F4v I am..to desire you to fill your little pellies at a dinner of plums behinde noone; there be Suckets, and Marmilads, and Marchants, and other long white plummes. B. adj. Sometimes (esp. in early use) used as postmodifier (see etymological note above). society > trade and finance > [adjective] > trading c1400 Burgh Laws (Bute) c. 98 in at Marchand-gild Lytstarys sowtarys na fleshewaris sal nocht be in na marchand gyld [L. in gilda mercatoria] bot gyf thai oyse nocht thair offycys wyth thair awyn handis. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1888) I. 45 A famous merchand toun, quhais name is Elgin. 1611 Isa. xxiii. 11 The Lord hath giuen a commandement against the merchant citie, to destroy the strong holdes thereof. View more context for this quotation 1764 R. Burn 9 All workmen shall bring..to the marchant towns their instruments. 1856 R. A. Vaughan I. vi. iii. 229 The merchant-league of the Rhineland. 1874 W. Stubbs I. xi. 417 The merchant-guild contained all the traders. 1923 29 130 The English merchant guild of the early Middle Ages..was closely related to the governement of the boroughs. 1957 E. H. Gombrich (ed. 8) xvi. 237 The grandeur of the great merchant cities of the Hellenistic period. society > trade and finance > [adjective] > relating to trade or commerce society > trade and finance > [adverb] > on trading journey 1425 IV. 276 Every Merchant Englissh shall paie the said Subsidee..in every Port, be his oothe or be his Merchant lettre. c1460 (?c1400) 3625 (MED) Wee out of Rome In marchantfare went. 1506–7 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 10th Rep.: App. Pt. V: MSS Marquis of Ormonde &c. (1885) 325 in (C. 4576-I) XLII. 1 That no foraine..passe not over the see..from hensforward a marchant fare except fishers and seefaring men. 1641 H. Robinson 4 All marchant and marchant-like Causes and differences. 3. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > trading vessel > [adjective] c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) ii. 7207 Þei ar wont..to stuf and charge Marchaunt schippes of straunge fer contre. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) xix. 193 Marchand-schippis that saland war Fra Scotland to Flandriss. 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas ii. i. 358 Lo how our marchant-vessels to and fro Freely about our trade-full Waters go. 1709 R. Steele No. 4. ⁋7 A Fleet of Merchant Ships coming from Scotland. 1769 W. Falconer at Mate A frigate of 20 guns, and a small merchant-ship, have only one mate in each. 1869 ‘M. Twain’ xxii. 217 Venice was the Autocrat of Commerce;..To-day her piers are deserted,..her merchant fleets are vanished. 1872 J. Yeats 279 As soon as England was able to protect her merchant-shipping. 1950 3 Feb. 139/2 For carriage in merchant vessels all vehicles..should possess a ‘knocked-down’ height of less than 7ft. 9in. 1986 Aug. 374/1 The continued expansion of such a force at the expense of the state's merchant fleet. 1690 S. Pepys 90 Others built..within the very same Time for Merchant-service, suceeded well and continu'd so. 1768 J. Cremer Jrnl. 27 Jan. in R. R. Bellamy (1936) 68 I now was a long time at home,..my Unkle having noe friends left in the Navey, and fue..in the Marchant Servis. 1797 5 July (1851) I. 445 In the year 1795 there was a deficiency in that trade [sc. fishing], owing..to the great demand for seamen in the merchant service. 1824 R. Heber Let. 8 Mar. in A. Heber (1830) II. xxiii. 195 I..highly approve the zeal which has led yourself..to offer your voluntary services for the religious instruction of a class of men..so often neglected, as the merchant seamen. 1851 H. Melville xvi. 79 I'll take that leg away from thy stern, if ever thou talkest of the marchant service to me again. 1899 F. T. Bullen 64 A humble merchant seaman. 1947 M. Lowry i. 39 Geoffrey had not been in the merchant service. 1989 D. Martin ii. 36 His grandfather had been to sea on windjammers in a long career as a merchant seaman. Phrasesthe mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > cheat, swindle [phrase] > get the better of 1593 T. Nashe 83 Is it not a common prouerbe..when any man hath cosend..vs, to say, Hee hath playde the Merchant with vs? a1626 W. Rowley (1632) iv. i. 51 I doubt Sir, he will play the merchant with us. 1824 J. R. Planché iv. i. 33 An' he play the merchant with us, Master Lambskin, I'll cut off's ears. the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > hear [verb (intransitive)] > listen > refuse to listen 1593 G. Harvey 166 The wisest Oeconomy maketh especiall account of three singular members; a marchants eare; a pigges mouth; and an Asses backe. 1597 J. Lyly i. i. 169 I see that seruants must haue Marchants ears. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán ii. 7 I put on Merchants eares, not vouchsafing to giue them the hearing. Compounds C1. General attributive. a. 1663 in J. A. Picton (1883) I. 240 Assessed by the marchant apprizers. 1894 Feb. 225 There often existed wide differences as to..the determination of the foreign value of similar kinds of imported goods by merchant appraisers at different ports. 1670 J. Pettus 93 No Merchant buyer of Oar shall touch the King's Dish. 1841 XXI. 403/1 The merchant-charterer is thereby discharged. 1818 Ld. Byron lx. 33 All hues Of gem and marble, to encrust the bones Of merchant-dukes. 1585 R. Parsons ii. iii. 13 Consider attentiuely, as a good marchantfactor is wont to do, when he is arriued in a strange country. 1853 T. T. Lynch 25 Barks as it were manned and laden of God's merchant-factors, the saints and sages. 1696 iii. 69 The Widow of a Merchant Jeweller came to see Fraudelisa; 'twas to sell her a Pearl Necklace. 1801 Misc. Tracts 41/2 His profession of merchant-jeweller. 1885 R. F. Burton tr. I. xv. 145 My father is a merchant jeweller possessed of great wealth. 1816 J. T. James i. 27 It was from the exports..that Frederic II., who was a merchant-king as well as a general and philosopher, drew his immense wealth. 1882 Dec. 742/1 What would Venetian art have been without the Doges and the magnificence of the merchant kings in that marvelous city of the sea. 2000 30 Apr. xiv. 8 The park..was named in honor of the merchant king Isidor Straus..who lived nearby..and perished on the Titanic. 1402 III. 519/2 Wolmongers..Marchant Leche..Taillours [etc.]. 1611 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas (new ed.) i. iii. 73 You Marchant Mercers, and Monopolites. 1531 T. Elyot i. xxi. sig. Liv As fastidiouse or fulsome to the reders, as suche marchaunt preachours be nowe to their custumers. 1873 (title) The export merchant shippers of London. 1912 II. 822/1 We will take as an example an indent for cotton goods, such as a large firm of merchant shippers would receive. 1948 8 (Suppl.) 4 The supplying of the needs of the community..was the result of the decisions of 135 independent merchant shippers. 2000 (Nexis) 10 June g1 Canton was named after the estate of John O'Donnell, a merchant shipper. 1826 P. Pounden 82 These merchant-sovereigns..importing in their galeons the precious relics of ancient literature. 1686 S. Pepys (1690) 106 No Admiral..shall presume..to receive..any Mony, Plate, Bullion, Jewels, or other Merchandize or Goods..whether upon Application to them made by any of our Merchant-Subjects in Forreign parts, or from any other inducement whatsoever. 1766 J. Entick Surv. London in IV. 350 The vintners..were known by the name of Merchant-wine-tunners of Gascoyne. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. cxx This whiche I haue spoken here of marchauntmen, concerneth also marchaunt women called nunnes. b. 1600 W. Shakespeare iii. ii. 269 And not one vessell scape the dreadfull touch of Merchant-marring rocks? View more context for this quotation a1794 W. Jones (1810) I. 206 In vain..We shun the merchant-marring seas. 1845 July 56 The seaman will sleep in security, where hitherto he has watched in dread of merchant-marring rocks. C2. 1768 J. Cremer Jrnl. 19 July in R. R. Bellamy (1936) 148 I was always in one of the factorey's housies to Learne Marchant Accounts wile the Ship was loading. society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > iron > [noun] > bar of iron > other types of bar 1838 F. W. Simms i. 49 Merchant or No.2 bars. a1898 H. Bessemer (1905) xv. 208 From this crude material, puddle bars are made, and these are cut into lengths of 2 ft. or 3 ft., and formed into a bundle or pile, which is brought up to a welding heat in a suitable furnace, and then rolled into a merchant bar. 1967 A. K. Osborne (ed. 2) 267/2 Merchant bar, (a) (Merchant iron.) The finished form of puddled bar after piling, reheating and rolling. (b) In modern usage the term is applied to all hot rolled steel—sold from warehouses direct to the retail trade as a finished product. 1999 (Version 99.1) at Steel Some bar mills also produce small channels, angles, tees, zees, and fence-post sections, with a maximum flange length of 75 millimetres, and call these products merchant bars. 1501 X. f. 127 The maisterful taking of the keyis of the merchand buthe of the sade Elizabit. 1566 in D. H. Fleming (1889) I. 290 The woman kepand his marchand buth as his wyff. 1618 in (1905) July 358 Wrangous..away takyng..fra Alexander Duff Johnsone..furth of his merchand builth in Inverness..off..the guids geir and merchandeice. 1715 A. Pennecuik Curious Coll. Scotish Poems in App. 98 Kens thou the Merchant Booth, To fetch me Paper, Wax, or Thread? 1448–9 Aberdeen Guild Rec. in W. C. Dickinson (1957) cxi Al maner of man that ladis ony merchand gudes owte of this burgh in Flaundris. 1550 in J. H. Burton (1877) 1st Ser. I. 85 To sell certane merchant gudis within the burgh. 1786 B. Franklin 1125 When they began to pack up for their Departure, they were inform'd, that by the word Goods, the General understood only Household Goods, that is their Beds, Chairs, and Tables, not Merchant Goods. society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > iron > [noun] > type of iron > other forms of iron 1784 H. Cort Specif. Patent in (1795) 3 366 All sorts of merchant iron. 1887 5 Sept. 11/2 A contract for a considerable tonnage of what is called ‘merchant iron’. 1997 (Nexis) 7 July 23 Our plan is to produce merchant iron for electric arc-furnace steel makers at Trenton. society > communication > indication > marking > marking to identify > mark of identification > [noun] > mark identifying goods 1540 in J. W. Clay (1902) VI. 97 Whiche morter haith my marchaunte marke sett upon it. 1966 G. E. Evans ii. 39 Some writers have read a fairly elaborate symbolism into these merchant marks. society > trade and finance > trader > merchant > [noun] > wealthy 1760 XVI. xvii. vii. 466 The king has the first choice of goods, whether in the payment of duties, or in exchange for slaves; the hereditary prince the second, the merchant prince the third, [etc.]. 1830 S. L. Fairfield 37 Glittering marts of merchant princes meet To purchase monarchies. 1888 J. W. Burgon II. x. 252 Magdalen Hall..is now (through the munificence of a merchant-Prince) Hertford College. 1990 14 May 66/2 And yet the church..has been astonishingly ineffective in catechizing its merchant-princes in the Way. society > trade and finance > trader > merchant > [adjective] > wealthy 1854 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 28 Mar. in (1997) I. i. 85 One of those ancient merchant-princely families. 1928 20 Dec. 6 Even the final figure, the three million dollar trade, is nothing breath-bereaving nor merchant-princely. 1998 (Nexis) 24 Aug. 25 Thirty-five hundred years ago, it was Thera, a merchant-princely suburb of Minoan civilization. 1854 G. A. Sala in 19 Aug. 3/1 There are peeresses, bishopesses, judgesses, bankeresses, stockbrokeresses, and merchant-princesses. 1873 15 Mar. 355/2 ‘Salt!’ exclaimed the merchant-princess, with a wrinkled forehead. 1966 C. Achebe i. 17 She was the ‘merchant princess’ par excellence. Poor beginning..plenty of good looks..rising to small trader, and then to a big one. 1875 E. H. Knight II. 1419/2 Merchant-rolls, finishing rolls of a rolling-mill. 1888 Mill Rolls, or Merchant Rolls, or Mill Train, the merchant rolls of a rolling mill. 1633 R. Handson (title) Analysis or resolution of merchants accompts. 1787 W. Combe (rev. ed.) II. 130 The author has in his possession the first work ever published in England on the art of Italian merchants-accounts, or Book-keeping by Double-entry. 1820 Dec. 602/1 Being afterwards sent to learn merchants' accounts, Haydon neglected those tedious studies for poetry and drawing. 1879 23 219 The question whether..interest is chargeable on merchants' accounts, and if so, from what point of time, has not yet been formally settled by the Supreme Court. 1902 18 39 I am inclined to think that this claim may not improperly be included in the category of ‘merchants' accounts’. 1977 T. H. Lloyd v. 169 The way in which the Exchequer acted upon the Chancery order is explained in a note preceding the enrolment of the merchants' accounts. society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > iron > [noun] > type of iron > other forms of iron a1650 G. Boate (1652) xvii. 136 They had one Tun of good Iron, such as is called Merchants-Iron. society > communication > indication > marking > marking to identify > mark of identification > [noun] > mark identifying goods 1557 in S. Tymms (1850) 146 My litle silver pott wt the cover havinge a marchaunts marke. 1586 J. Ferne i. 238 What do you then say to the coate of Armes of Godfrey of Bulloigne..was that but a Merchants marke in your estimation? 1625 in S. R. Gardiner (1889) 31 To survey al the bils of lading and to compare al the merchants marks. 1888 17 73 Great respect was paid to merchant's marks in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. 1966 G. E. Evans ii. 38 Merchants' marks were used much as trade-marks are today. 1861 W. Fairbairn vi. 110 Rollers for the puddling, boiler-plate, and merchant train. 1881 9 155 Merchant-train, a train of rolls for reducing iron piles or steel ingots, blooms, or billets to bars of any of the various..shapes, known as merchant iron or steel. 1971 W. K. V. Gale 133 Merchant mill (merchant train) (jobbing mill), any rolling mill doing a general jobbing trade. 1483 in G. Neilson & H. Paton (1918) II. Introd. p. cvii [To] pay..sevin sek of woll gude and sufficient merchand ware without ter, cot or eik. 1616 in R. Renwick (1887) I. 144 All weyabill merchand waris, sic as lint, hemp, irn, woll. 1756 in A. Pennecuik et al. 139 Three kings expos'd to sale! ye've plac'd them there To show we Scots sell kings like merchant-ware. the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > [noun] > a system or standard of weighing > specific systems or standards 1704 No. 4014/4 Three Pounds Sixteen Shillings per Hundred, Merchant Weight. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † merchantv. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French marchander. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French marchander (13th cent.; also in Anglo-Norman in forms marchaunder , merchander , merchandier ) < marchand (see merchant n.).Forms in -t are after merchant n. For the post-medieval predominance of forms in mer- , see note s.v. merchant n. N.E.D. (1906) gives the pronunciation as (mə̄·ɹtʃănt) /ˈmɜːtʃənt/. Obsolete. society > trade and finance > [verb (intransitive)] the mind > language > speech > agreement > make an agreement with [verb (transitive)] > negotiate c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xiii. 394 If I sent..my seruauntz to Bruges..To marchaunden with monoye [etc.]. c1450 tr. G. Deguileville (Cambr.) (1869) 150 To bigile thilke that ben symple..Or that ben nyce to marchaunde. 1481 W. Caxton tr. (1893) 115 The turke..wold not suffre them of nothyng, sauf..for to marchaunte to bye and selle. 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart II. cxxix. 366 The duke of Lancastre and the duches his wyfe had rather marchant with you and with your sonne than with the duke of Berrey. 1614 C. Cornwallis Let. 22 June in J. Gutch (1781) I. xiii. 162 I held it not fit, we should merchant with our Sovereign. 1622 F. Bacon 99 Besides that, Ferdinando..merchanded at this time with France for the restoring of the Counties of Russignon and Perpignian. 1679 L. Addison 80 He died in the 63 year of his age, after he had Merchanted 38, been two years in the Cave [etc.]. 1867 T. Carlyle (1881) I. 170 Graham never merchanted more. society > trade and finance > [verb (transitive)] 1511 c. 8 §1 No Minister in City or Borough, which..ought to keep Assises of Wines and Victuals..should merchant Wines and Victuals. 1541 c. 2 The said fishermen..do marchant and bie the said french fishe. 1893 W. D. Spelman in 5 Oct. 6/2 The rare, rich cutlery which he merchanted. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online December 2021). <  n.adj.c1225 v.c1400 |
