peddler

American  

[ped-ler] / ˈpɛd lər /

especially British, pedlar,

noun

1. a person who sells from door to door or in the street.

2. a person who tries to promote some cause, candidate, viewpoint, etc.

---

peddler British  

/ ˈpɛdlə /

noun

1. a person who sells illegal drugs, esp narcotics

2. the usual US spelling of pedlar

---

Etymology

Origin of peddler

1350–1400; Middle English pedlere, unexplained variant of peder, derivative of ped ( de ) basket

Example Sentences

Tailors, leather workers, cobblers, tanners, weavers, spice dealers, peddlers, merchants, silversmiths, goldsmiths—a whole wonderful community that lived and worked together and flourished—are being forced to leave.

From Literature

It said that Mr. Maroney would send a friend of his, disguised as a book peddler, to call on the sister’s house this evening, and that Mrs. Maroney was to give over everything to him.

From Literature

Iris is visibly insecure about Isaac’s conversations with other women, including the strawberry peddler who coos that he has “soft hands,” and his mother, who dials him up to crack inside jokes.

From Los Angeles Times

He grew up believing his father was a poor street peddler.

From Los Angeles Times

“Apple Cider Vinegar” hammers across – subconsciously, granted — the notion of shared culpability between the medical profession and snake oil wellness peddlers.

From Salon

Related Words

• vendor