Definition: merchant

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

merchant
     n : a businessperson engaged in retail trade [syn: merchandiser]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

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.

            Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad.
                                                  --Shak.

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

   3. One who keeps a store or shop for the sale of goods; a
      shopkeeper. [U. S. & Scot.]
Merchant \Mer"chant\, a.
   Of, pertaining to, or employed in, trade or merchandise; as,
   the merchant service.

   Merchant bar, Merchant iron or steel, certain common
      sizes of wrought iron and steel bars.

   Merchant service, 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.
Merchant \Mer"chant\, v. i.
   To be a merchant; to trade. [Obs.]

Source: THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) 

MERCHANT, n.  One engaged in a commercial pursuit.  A commercial
pursuit is one in which the thing pursued is a dollar.

Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary 

Merchant
   The Hebrew word so rendered is from a root meaning "to travel
   about," "to migrate," and hence "a traveller." In the East, in
   ancient times, merchants travelled about with their merchandise
   from place to place (Gen. 37:25; Job 6:18), and carried on their
   trade mainly by bartering (Gen. 37:28; 39:1). After the Hebrews
   became settled in Palestine they began to engage in commercial
   pursuits, which gradually expanded (49:13; Deut. 33:18; Judg.
   5:17), till in the time of Solomon they are found in the chief
   marts of the world (1 Kings 9:26; 10:11, 26, 28; 22:48; 2 Chr.
   1:16; 9:10, 21). After Solomon's time their trade with foreign
   nations began to decline. After the Exile it again expanded into
   wider foreign relations, because now the Jews were scattered in
   many lands.