Etymology From Middle Dutch mart, markt (“market”) (Modern Dutch markt), from Old Dutch *markat, from Late Latin marcātus, an alternative form of Classical Latin mercātus. See market.
In that day, drovers would drive their cattle to the marts on the coast.
Their facility is one of the largest livestock auction marts in the Scottish Highlands.
4 more examples
Come out of it my Soul, thou art not fit For this vile traffic-house, where day by day Wisdom and reverence are sold at mart, And the rude people rage with ignorant cries Against an heritage of centuries. It mars my calm: wherefore in dreams of Art And loftiest culture I would stand apart, Neither for God, nor for his enemies.a. 1881, Oscar Wilde, 'Theoretikos', in Poems:
Perhaps ſome Merchant hath inuited him, And from the Mart he's ſomewhere gone to dinner: Good Siſter let vs dine, and neuer fret; A man is Maſter of his libertie:c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 87:
And by great waters the seede of Sihor, the haruest of the riuer is her reuenew, and she is a mart of nations.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 23:3:
In London; where has commerce ſuch a mart, So rich, ſo throng'd, ſo drain'd, and ſo ſupplied, As London, opulent, enlarged, and ſtill Increaſing, London?1785, William Cowper, “Book I. The Sofa.”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC, page 38:
Faith Gentlemen now I play a marchants part, And venture madly on a deſperate Mart.c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 217, column 2:
Etymology From Middle Dutch mart, markt (“market”) (Modern Dutch markt), from Old Dutch *markat, from Late Latin marcātus, an alternative form of Classical Latin mercātus. See market.
To sell and mart your officer for gold To undeservers.1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]: