1. a dealer in textiles, especially fine fabrics like silk and velvet
Usage: archaic; historical

Examples

• The mercer displayed bolts of silk in his shop window.
• In medieval times, a mercer was an important figure in the textile trade.
• The wealthy mercer imported fine fabrics from distant lands.
• She visited the mercer to purchase velvet for her gown.
• The mercer’s guild controlled much of the fabric trade in the city.