merchantryn.

c1560 T. Mowntayne Autobiogr. in J. G. Nichols Narr. Reformation (1859) 214 As for your marchawntryes and myne, yn some poyntes I thynke they be mouche alyke.

1671 J. Baltharpe Straights Voy. 84 We did then Sir Edward see, With several Ships of Merchantree.

1789 H. Walpole Let. Sept. (1840) VI. 351 I wish human wit, which is really very considerable in mechanics and merchantry, could devise [etc.].

a1800 S. Pegge Anecd. Eng. Lang. (1803) 267 Most of the streets..have their titles from their Merchantry.

1864 H. Mayhew German Life & Manners I. 165 In England,..where merchantry is something beyond that of mere pedlar's work.

1912 Amer. Hist. Rev. 17 236 He finds the American Revolution to have been solely caused by trade rivalry and contentious merchantry.

1962 G. Corso Long live Man 50 It would be best to de-gangsterize merchantry.

1988 R. Angell Season Ticket (1989) viii. 188 The quick mind and cool eye most responsible for this..merchantry belong to Pat Gillick,..who is much admired..for his discovery and signing of so many brilliant young..players.

1862 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia III. xiii. vi. 497 Our Town-Council, and whole Merchantry and Citizenry, safe under this Prussian Sceptre.

1997 G. Hosking Russia (1998) iii. v. 256 The abolition of serfdom rendered meaningless most of the distinctions which remained between the peasants and the meshchane, and the last of the distinctions from the merchantry was eliminated in 1863.