/ ˈmɜːtʃənt; NAmE ˈmɜːrtʃ-/ noun , adjective
■ noun
1.
a person who buys and sells goods in large quantities, especially one who imports and exports goods :
builders' merchants (= who sell supplies to the building trade)
a coal / wine merchant
Venice was once a city of rich merchants.
—see also squeegee merchant
2.
( BrE , informal , disapproving ) a person who likes a particular activity :
a speed merchant (= sb who likes to drive fast)
noise merchants (= for example, a band who make a lot of noise)
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IDIOMS
see doom noun
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] connected with the transport of goods by sea :
merchant seamen
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French marchant , based on Latin mercari to trade, from merx , merc- merchandise.