From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Merchant \Mer"chant\, 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.
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Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad.
--Shak.
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2. A trading vessel; a merchantman. [Obs.] --Shak.
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3. One who keeps a store or shop for the sale of goods; a
shopkeeper. [U. S. & Scot.]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Merchant \Mer"chant\, a.
Of, pertaining to, or employed in, trade or merchandise; as,
the merchant service.
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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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Merchant \Mer"chant\, v. i.
To be a merchant; to trade. [Obs.]
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
merchant
n 1: a businessperson engaged in retail trade [syn: merchant,
merchandiser]