merchantman

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a ship used to carry goods in trade rather than for naval warfare

   A merchantman carried the letter home with its cargo of timber and furs.

A compound of merchant + man. Merchant came through Anglo-French from Latin mercari, 'trade,' based on merx, 'merchandise.' Merchantman once could mean a male trader, but the established nautical use treats the compound as a trading vessel, in contrast with a warship.

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