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. Shak.
3. One who keeps a store or shop for the sale of goods; a shopkeeper.