merchant of death

American  

noun

1. a company, nation, or person that sells military arms on the international market, usually to the highest bidder and without scruple or regard for political ramifications.

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Etymology

Origin of merchant of death

Phrase popularized by the book Merchants of Death (1934) by U.S. writers Helmut C. Engelbrecht (1895–1939) and Frank C. Hanighen (1899–1964)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

merchant of death

Russia is hopeful it can agree a prisoner swap with the US that would include infamous arms trafficker Viktor Bout, known as the merchant of death.

From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2022

Hawk-nosed, trim-mustached, elegant, cynical, softspoken, he was the archetype of the cinethriller version of a mysterious merchant of death.

From Time Magazine Archive

For its heavy military business in the '30s, Vickers was tagged a "merchant of death."

From Time Magazine Archive

Example: "With his nostrils distended by the provocative odor from 600 half-barrels of pistol powder, which he had foresightedly ordered from London, Thomas now turned into a full-fledged, fire-eating merchant of death."

From Time Magazine Archive

This merchant of death is also an apostle of life.

From Time Magazine Archive

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