Etymology From Middle English marchaunt, from Anglo-Norman marchaunt, from mercans, from the verb mercor (“to trade, deal, sell”).
1
A person who traffics in commodities for profit.
2
The owner or operator of a retail business.
3
A trading vessel; a merchantman.
Every day, some sailor's wife, / The masters of some merchant, and the merchant, / Have just our theme of woe.1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], line 5:
4
Derogatory, Informal, Sometimes Someone who is noted for a stated type of activity or behaviour.
He's some kind of speed merchant — he drives way too fast.
Goal merchant Smith scored twice again in the match against Mudchester Rovers.