merchant

Where does the word "merchant" come from? It comes from Latin merx, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Merchant’s story begins in Latin: merx meant “merchandise, goods.” Merchandise, goods for sale. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as marchant. Carried into French for a person who trades goods. It reached English by 1200s as merchant. Settled as the English word for a person who buys and sells goods. Today, merchant means a person or business involved in wholesale trade of goods.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient merx "merchandise, goods", merchandise, goods for sale.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval marchant "a trader of goods", carried into French for a person who trades goods.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s merchant "a person who buys and sells goods for profit", settled as the English word for a person who buys and sells goods.