/'mɜ:tʃənt; `mɝtʃənt/
n
1 (a) wholesale trader, esp one who trades with foreign countries 批发商; （尤指）外贸批发商
*an ,import-`export merchant 进出口批发商.
(b) (in compounds 用以构成复合词) trader in the goods stated 经营某货物的商人
*a `coal-merchant 煤商
* a `wine-merchant 酒商. =>Usage at dealer 用法见dealer.
2 (derog sl 贬, 俚) person who is fond of a specified activity, etc （某活动等的）爱好者
*a `speed merchant, ie sb who likes to drive (too) fast 好开快车的人.

n[C]
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French;Origin: marcheant, from Latin mercatus, past participle of mercari 'to buy and sell']
wine/coal/timber etc merchant
someone whose job is to buy and sell wine, coal etc or a small company that does this
　He had a job with an Edinburgh wine merchant.
old-fashioned someone who buys and sells goods in large quantities
　the son of a wealthy merchant
con merchant/speed merchant etc
BrE informal someone who is involved in a particular activity, such as tricking people or driving very fast