merchantablenessn.
/ˈməːtʃ(ə)ntəblnəs/, U.S. /ˈmərtʃən(t)əb(ə)lnəs/ Now rare.
= merchantability n.In quot. 1737 defined as if an adjective.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > [noun] > ability to be sold
vendibleness1611
merchantableness1644
vendibility1660
saleableness1727
saleability1797
marketableness1809
marketability1877
market potential1954
1644 Proc. Provincial Court 2 May in W. H. Browne Arch. Maryland (1887) IV. 270 Proofe of the merchantablenes of it [sc. tobacco].
1737 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. (ed. 3) II Merchantableness, saleable, fit for sale, traffick or the market.
1885 Law Times 79 132/2 In a sale by sample there is an implied warranty of merchantableness.
1949 in U.S. Customs Rep. (1950) 23 248 Two kinds of rock candy, differing in the size of crystals and comparative merchantableness, were nevertheless held to be similar.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1644