chapman
noun/ˈt͡ʃæpmən/
Etymology From Middle English chapman, chepman, from Old English ċēapmann (“dealer, merchant”), from Proto-West Germanic *kaupamann, equivalent to cheap (noun) + man. Cognate with synonymous West Frisian keapman, Dutch koopman, German Low German Koopmann, German Kaufmann, Swedish köpman.
1
Obsolete A dealer or merchant, especially an itinerant one.
- Done. They are gone: the sum is here in bank, my Face. I would we knew another chapman now would buy 'em outright.c. 1610, Ben Jonson, The Alchemist, act 3:
- When chapmen billies leave the street, / And drouthy neibors, neibors meet, / As market days are wearing late, / An' folk begin to tak the gate1790, Robert Burns, Tam o' Shanter:
2
Obsolete A purchaser.
- Derived terms
- chap, shortened form (16th century), chapmanhood, chapmanship
- Related terms
- chapbook