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mployed in the commercial cities of China, as the medium of communication between foreign merchants and the Chinese. Its base is English, with a mixture of Portuguese and Hindoostanee. Johnson's Cyc. -- Pigeon grass (Bot.), a kind of foxtail grass (Setaria glauca), of some value as fodder. The seeds are eagerly eaten…

A mark conspicuously painted on the port side of all British sea-going merchant vessels, to indicate the limit of submergence allowed by law; -- so called from Samuel Plimsoll, by whose efforts the act of Parliament to prevent overloading was procured.

Dust; powder. [Obs.] Chaucer. Poudre marchant Etym: [see Merchant], a kind of flavoring powder used in the Middle Ages. [Obs.] Chaucer.

f any body of men; one at the head of a class or profession; one who is preëminent; as, a merchant prince; a prince of players. "The prince of learning." Peacham. Prince-Albert coat, a long double-breasted frock coat for men. -- Prince of the blood, Prince consort, Prince of darkness. See under Blood, Consort, and Dar…

A low fellow; a churl. Raff merchant, a dealer in lumber and odd refuse. [Prov. Eng.]

The class of a merchant vessel for marine insurance, determined by its relative safety as a risk, as A1, A2, etc.

lish Governor of Madras (whence also called the Pitt diamond), who bought it of an Indian merchant in 1701.

A record containing a list and description of the merchant vessels belonging to a port or customs district.

ed with land, goods, or money; wealthy; opulent; affluent; -- opposed to Ant: poor. "Rich merchants." Chaucer. The rich [person] hath many friends. Prov. xiv. 20. As a thief, bent to unhoard the cash Of some rich burgher. Milton.

Tricks deserving the halter; roguery. [Obs.] "Saucy merchant . . . so full of his ropery." Shak.

Noble; generous; magnificent; princely. How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio Shak.

A toll duty formerly exacted of merchant strangers by mayors, sheriffs, etc., for goods shown or offered for sale within their precincts. Cowell.

The customary certificate of national character which neutral merchant vessels are bound to carry in time of war; a passport for a vessel and cargo.

A document carried by neutral merchant vessels in time of war, to show their nationality; a sea letter or passport. See Passport.

To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality; as, to seal weights and measures; to seal silverware.

f the lawfully commissioned cruisers of belligerent nations to examine and search private merchant vessels on the high seas, for the enemy's property or for articles contraband of war. -- Search warrant (Law), a warrant legally issued, authorizing an examination or search of a house, or other place, for goods stolen,…

r hammered piece, as a bar, beam, angle iron, etc., having a cross section different from merchant bar.

A person engaged in the purchase and sale of slaves; a slave merchant, or slave trader. The slaver's hand was on the latch, He seemed in haste to go. Longfellow.

ition of being solvent; ability to pay all just debts; solvency; as, the solvability of a merchant.

Able or sufficient to pay all just debts; as, a solvent merchant; the estate is solvent.