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mercer

[ mur-ser ]
/ ˈmɜr sər /
|

noun Chiefly British.

a dealer in textile fabrics; dry-goods merchant.

Nearby words

mercator track, merced, mercedes, mercedes-benz, mercenary, mercer, mercer island, mercerize, mercery, merch, merchandise

Origin of mercer

1150–1200; Middle English < Anglo-French; Old French mercier merchant, equivalent to merz merchandise (< Latin merx, accusative mercem) + -ier -ier2; see -er2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mercer

British Dictionary definitions for mercer (1 of 2)

mercer

/ (ˈmɜːsə) /

noun

British a dealer in textile fabrics and fine cloth
Derived Formsmercery, noun

Word Origin for mercer

C13: from Old French mercier dealer, from Vulgar Latin merciārius (unattested), from Latin merx goods, wares

British Dictionary definitions for mercer (2 of 2)

Mercer

/ (ˈmɜːsə) /

noun

Johnny, full name John Herndon Mercer. 1909–76, US popular songwriter and singer. His most popular songs include "Blues in the Night" (1941) and "Moon River" (1961)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for mercer

mercer

n.

early 12c., "dealer in textile," from Old French mercier "shopkeeper, tradesman," from Vulgar Latin *merciarius, from Latin merx (see market (n.)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper