[mer.chant] n [ME marchant, fr. OF marcheant, fr. (assumed) VL mercatant-, mercatans, fr. prp. of mercatare to trade, freq. of L mercari--more at market] (13c) 1: a buyer and seller of commodities for profit: trader
2: the operator of a retail business: storekeeper
3: one that is noted for a particular quality or activity: specialist "a speed ~ on the base paths" -- merchant adj
[2]merchant vi (14c) archaic: to deal or trade as a merchant ~ vt: to deal or trade in