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ion in land, goods, shares, etc.; as, a speculative dealer or enterprise. The speculative merchant exercises no one regular, established, or well-known branch of business. A. Smith. -- Spec"u*la*tive*ly, adv. -- Spec"u*la*tive*ness, n.

A settled mart; an emporium; a city or town to which merchants brought commodities for sale or exportation in bulk; a place for wholesale traffic. The customs of Alexandria were very great, it having been the staple of the Indian trade. Arbuthnot. For the increase of trade and the encouragement of the worthy burgesses…

ublic service in making roads, bridges, etc., as in certain English colonies. -- Statute merchant (Eng. Law), a bond of record pursuant to the stat. 13 Edw. I., acknowledged in form prescribed, on which, if not paid at the day, an execution might be awarded against the body, lands, and goods of the debtor, and the obl…

Supply provided; store; accumulation; especially, a merchant's or manufacturer's store of goods; as, to lay in a stock of provisions. Add to that stock which justly we bestow. Dryden.

Having great wealth, means, or resources; as, a strong house, or company of merchants.

An officer or person in a merchant ship, whose duty is to manage the sales, and superintend the commercial concerns, of the voyage.

n. To suspend payment (Com.), to cease paying debts or obligations; to fail; -- said of a merchant, a bank, etc.

A customhouse officer who goes on board of a merchant ship to secure payment of the duties; a tidewaiter.

A customhouse officer who watches the landing of goods from merchant vessels, in order to secure payment of duties. Swift.

A tollbooth; also, a merchants' meeting place, or exchange. [Obs.] Halliwell.

An invented or arbitrary adopted name given by a manufacturer or merchant to an article to distinguish it as produced or sold by him.

A peculiar distinguishing mark or device affixed by a manufacturer or a merchant to his goods, the exclusive right of using which is recognized by law.

aged in trade or commerce; one who makes a business of buying and selling or of barter; a merchant; a trafficker; as, a trader to the East Indies; a country trader.

either by barter or by buying and selling; interchange of goods and commodities; trade. A merchant of great traffic through the world. Shak. The traffic in honors, places, and pardons. Macaulay.

One who traffics, or carries on commerce; a trader; a merchant.

A commercial agent who travels for the purpose of receiving orders for merchants, making collections, etc.

To commit, as to one's care; to intrust. Merchants were not willing to trust precious cargoes to any custody but that of a man-of-war. Macaulay.

evil. -- To turn back. (a) To give back; to return. We turn not back the silks upon the merchants, When we have soiled them. Shak.

sing or involving trick or artifice; dishonest; unjust; unequal. You come, like an unfair merchant, to charge me with being in your debt. Swift. -- Un*fair"ly, adv -- Un*fair"ness, n.

e the load from; to take out the cargo of; as, to unlade a ship or a wagon. The venturous merchant . . . Shall here unlade him and depart no more. Dryden.