Mercer definitions

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MER'CER, n. [L. merx, wares, commodities.]
One who deals in silks.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a dealer in textiles (especially silks)
2: British maker of printed calico cloth who invented mercerizing (1791-1866) [syn: Mercer, John Mercer]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from merz merchandise, from Latin merc-, merx Date: 13th century British a dealer in usually expensive fabrics

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. Brit. a dealer in textile fabrics, esp. silk and other costly materials. Derivatives: mercery n. (pl. -ies). Etymology: ME f. AF mercer, OF mercier ult. f. L merx mercis goods

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mercer Mer"cer, n. [F. mercier, fr. L. merx, mercis, wares, merchandise. See Merchant.] Originally, a dealer in any kind of goods or wares; now restricted to a dealer in textile fabrics, as silks or woolens. [Eng.]