merchantman

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Italic *merks

Latin merx

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu.

Proto-Italic *-ājō

Proto-Italic *-āō

Latin -or

Latin mercor

Latin mercānsder.

Anglo-Norman marchauntbor.

Middle English marchaunt

English merchant

Proto-Indo-European *mon-

Proto-Germanic *mann-

Proto-West Germanic *mann

Old English mann

Middle English man

Middle English -man

English -man

English merchantman

From merchant + -man.

Noun

merchantman (plural merchantmen)

2. (obsolete) A male merchant (person engaged in trade).

   Coordinate terms: merchantwoman, merchantess

   Near-synonyms: merchant (precisely hypernymous), trader

4. Synonym of merchant ship.

   Hyponym: armed merchantman

Derived terms

• armed merchantman

Translations

merchant — see merchant

cargo ship — see cargo ship