the business of selling goods directly to consumers (distinguished from wholesaling).
Origin of retailing
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at retail, -ing1
retail
[ree-teyl for 1–4, 6; ri-teylfor 5]
noun
the sale of goods to ultimate consumers, usually in small quantities (opposed to wholesale).
adjective
pertaining to, connected with, or engaged in sale at retail: the retail price.
adverb
in a retail quantity or at a retail price.
verb (used with object)
to sell at retail; sell directly to the consumer.
to relate or repeat in detail to others: to retail scandal.
verb (used without object)
to be sold at retail: It retails at 50 cents.
Origin of retail
1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English < Anglo-French: a cutting, derivative of retailler to cut, equivalent to re-re- + tailler to cut (see tail2); (v.) Middle Englishretailen < Old Frenchretailler
Related formsre·tail·er, nounnon·re·tail, adjectivenon·re·tail·er, noun
mid-14c. "sell in small quantities or parcels," from Old French retaillier "cut back, cut off, pare, clip, reduce, circumcise," from re- "back" (see re-) + taillier "to cut, trim" (see tailor (n.)). Sometimes also "to deal out (information, etc.) in small quantities; hand down by report; recount, tell over again" (1590s). Related: Retailed; retailing.
retail
n.
early 15c., "sale of commodities in small quantities or parcels or at second hand" (opposed to wholesale), from Old French retail "piece cut off, shred, scrap, paring" (Modern French retaille), from retaillier (see retail (v.)). The notion of the English word is "a selling by the piece." This sense is not in French, however, and comes perhaps from cognate Italian ritaglio, which does have that sense. As an adjective, "of or pertaining to sale at retail," c.1600.
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