peddler
[ped-ler]
- a person who sells from door to door or in the street.
- a person who tries to promote some cause, candidate, viewpoint, etc.
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Also especially British, ped·lar, ped·ler.
Origin of peddler
1350–1400; Middle English pedlere, unexplained variant of peder, derivative of ped(de) basket
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for peddler
Contemporary Examples
Mandelbaum began her climb to the top of the crime world as a peddler on the rough-and-tumble, bustling streets of New York City.
Meet 'The Queen of Thieves' Marm Mandelbaum, New York City's First Mob BossJ. North Conway
September 7, 2014
According to tradition, the typical Yankee peddler was thought to be so shrewd that he could carve and sell counterfeit nutmegs.
Just look at Zynga, the peddler of Facebook games Farmville and Mafia Wars.
Historical Examples
But it was the face that startled the peddler—the face of Paul Ritson.
A Son of HagarSir Hall Caine
Pe ye a Yankee peddler, mit chewelry in your pack, to sheat the gals?
"Thank you kindly, ma'am, but I must be far on my road to-night," said the peddler.
Hidden HandEmma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth
So you're the boys that got the car away from the peddler, are ye?
The Boy Scout Treasure HuntersCharles Henry Lerrigo
What shall we do if he isn't to be seen and the peddler won't let us look inside?
The Boy Scout Treasure HuntersCharles Henry Lerrigo
peddler
- a person who sells illegal drugs, esp narcotics
- the usual US spelling of pedlar
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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 peddler
n.
late 14c. (c.1300 as a surname, Will. Le Pedelare), from peoddere, peddere (c.1200, mid-12c. as a surname), of unknown origin. It has the appearance of an agent noun, but no corresponding verb is attested in Middle English. Perhaps a diminutive of ped "panier, basket," also of unknown origin, but this is attested only from late 14c. Pedlar, preferred spelling in U.K., is attested from late 14c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper