ˈmə:tʃənt n. 1 a
wholesale trader,
esp.
with foreign countries. 2 esp. US &
Sc. a
retail trader. 3 colloq. usu. derog. a
person showing a
partiality for a specified
activity or
practice (speed merchant). ømerchant bank esp.
Brit. a bank dealing in
commercial loans
and finance. merchant banker a
member of a merchant bank. merchant
marine US = merchant
navy. merchant navy a nation's commercial
shipping. merchant
prince a
wealthy merchant. merchant
ship =
MERCHANTMAN. [ME f. OF marchand, marchant ult. f. L mercari
trade f. merx mercis merchandise]