n. 1. The body of merchants taken collectively; as, the merchantry of a country. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The business of a merchant; merchandise. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be a merchant; to trade. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. marchant, OF. marcheant, F. marchand, fr. LL. mercatans, -antis, p. pr. of mercatare to negotiate, L. mercari to traffic, fr. merx, mercis, wares. See Market, Merit, and cf. Commerce. ] 1. One who traffics on a large scale, especially with foreign countries; a trafficker; a trader. [ 1913 Webster ]

Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A trading vessel; a merchantman. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who keeps a store or shop for the sale of goods; a shopkeeper. [ U. S. & Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of, pertaining to, or employed in, trade or merchandise; as, the merchant service. [ 1913 Webster ]

Merchant bar,
Merchant iron or
Merchant steel, certain common sizes of wrought iron and steel bars. --
Merchant service or Merchant marine, the mercantile marine of a country. Am. Cyc. --
Merchant ship, a ship employed in commerce. --
Merchant tailor, a tailor who keeps and sells materials for the garments which he makes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Fit for market; such as is usually sold in market, or such as will bring the ordinary price; as, merchantable wheat; sometimes, a technical designation for a particular kind or class. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Merchantlike; suitable to the character or business of a merchant. [ Obs. ] Gauden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Merchantmen [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A merchant. [ Obs. ] Matt. xiii. 45. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A trading vessel; a ship employed in the transportation of goods, as, distinguished from a man-of-war. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The ships owned by nationals of a particular country that are engaged in civilian commerce; also, the personnel operating those vessels. Distinguished from the navy, which contains the vessels of war. [ PJC ]