— merchantlike , adj.
/merr"cheuhnt/ , n.
1. a person who buys and sells commodities for profit; dealer; trader.
2. a storekeeper; retailer: a local merchant who owns a store on Main Street.
3. Chiefly Brit. a wholesaler.
adj.
4. pertaining to or used for trade or commerce: a merchant ship.
5. pertaining to the merchant marine.
6. Steelmaking. (of bars and ingots) of standard shape or size.
[ 1250-1300; ME marchant marcheant mercatant- (s. of * mercatans ), prp. of * mercatare, freq. of L mercari to trade, deriv. of merx goods ]