dicker1
[dik-er]
- to deal, swap, or trade with petty bargaining; bargain; haggle.
- to barter.
- to try to arrange matters by mutual bargaining: They dickered for hours over some of the finer points of the contract.
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- a petty bargain.
- a barter or swap.
- an item or goods bartered or swapped.
- a deal, especially a political deal.
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Origin of dicker1
First recorded in 1795–1805; perhaps v. use of dicker2
dicker2
[dik-er]
- the number or quantity ten, especially a lot of ten hides or skins.
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Origin of dicker2
1225–75; Middle English diker < Old French dacre, Medieval Latin dikeria; compare Latin decuria decury
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for dicker
Contemporary Examples
The only thing America lacks is a tough, take no prisoners "Negotiator-in-Chief" to dicker America's way to the top again.
Historical Examples
It looks to me as if 'twould be pretty good business to dicker with him.
Thankful's InheritanceJoseph C. Lincoln
Yet the men had an ineradicable propensity to dicker among themselves.
The Siege of BostonAllen French
Dicker, I want you to bring in a bill to make Fastburg the only capital.
Stories by American Authors (Volume 4)Constance Fenimore Woolson
"I did not," confessed Mr. Dicker, with a mixture of shame and abhorrence.
Stories by American Authors (Volume 4)Constance Fenimore Woolson
"I'm a hustler on a dicker, and a hellion on junk," snapped the boss.
Blow The Man DownHolman Day
dicker
- to trade (goods) by bargaining; barter
- (intr) to negotiate a political deal
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- a petty bargain or barter
- the item or items bargained or bartered
- a political deal or bargain
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Word Origin
C12: ultimately from Latin decuria decury; related to Middle Low German dēker lot of ten hides
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for dicker
v.
"haggle, bargain in a petty way," 1802, American English, perhaps from dicker (n.) "a unit or package of tens," especially hides (attested from late 13c.), perhaps from Latin decuria "parcel of ten" (supposedly a unit of barter on the Roman frontier; cf. German Decher "set of ten things"), from decem "ten" (see ten) on model of centuria from centum.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper