subs. (old).—A term of abuse.

1

  d. 1555.  LATIMER, Sermons, 115. b. [NARES]. The crafty MERCHANT that will set brother against broiher meaneth to destroy them both.

2

  1557–8.  Jacob and Esau [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, ii. 255]. Esau. What, ye saucy MERCHANT, are ye a prater now?

3

  1595.  SHAKESPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, ii. 4. 153. I pray you, sir, what saucy MERCHANT was this that was so full of his ropery?

4

  1633.  ROWLEY, A Match at Midnight, v. 1. Sim. I knew you were a crafty MERCHANT.

5

  TO PLAY THE MERCHANT, verb. phr. (old).—See quot. 1593.

6

  1593.  NASHE, Christ’s Teares [GROSART (1885), iv. 240]. Is it not a common proverb amongst us, when any man hath cosened or gone beyonde us, to say, Hee hath PLAYDE THE MERCHANT with us.

7

  1632.  ROWLEY, A Woman Never Vexed, iv. 1. I doubt, Sir, he will PLAY THE MERCHANT with us.

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