mercer

From Anglo-Norman marcer, mercer (“merchant, textile merchant”), from merz (“commodity”) (from Latin merx).

• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈmɝsɚ/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmɜːsə/

mercer (plural mercers)

1. A merchant dealing in fabrics and textiles, especially silks and other fine cloths.
   • 1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC:

     ... Acolastus-Polypragmon-Asotus, is here present (by the help of his mercer, tailor, milliner, sempster, and so forth) at his designed hour...

   • 1922 February, James Joyce, Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:

     He passed, dallying, the windows of Brown Thomas, silk mercers.

• haberdasher

• Cremer

Either from Vulgar Latin *merciārius or from Old Catalan merç (“commodity”), both ultimately from Latin merx (“merchandise, goods”).

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [mərˈse]
• IPA^(key): (Valencian) [meɾˈseɾ]

mercer m (plural mercers, feminine mercera)

1. mercer
2. haberdasher

• merceria

• “mercer” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

mercer

1. first-person singular present active subjunctive of mercor