chapman

See also: Chapman

English

Etymology

From Middle English chapman, chepman, from Old English ċēapmann (“dealer, merchant”), from Proto-West Germanic *kaupamann, equivalent to cheap (noun) +‎ man. Cognate with synonymous West Frisian keapman, Dutch koopman, German Low German Koopmann, German Kaufmann, Swedish köpman.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃæpmən/

Noun

chapman (plural chapmen)

1. (obsolete) A dealer or merchant, especially an itinerant one.

   Synonyms: cheapjack (cognate), peddler

   • c. 1610, Ben Jonson, The Alchemist, act 3:

     Done. They are gone: the sum is here in bank, my Face. I would we knew another chapman now would buy 'em outright.

   • 1790, Robert Burns, Tam o' Shanter‎^[1]:

     When chapmen billies leave the street, / And drouthy neibors, neibors meet, / As market days are wearing late, / An' folk begin to tak the gate

2. (obsolete) A purchaser.

Derived terms

• chap, shortened form (16th century)
• chapmanhood
• chapmanship

Related terms

• chapbook

Further reading

• “chapman”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• chapman (occupation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Scots

Etymology

From Old English cēapmann (“dealer”) (cognate with synonymous German Kaufmann), from cēap (“barter, business, dealing”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tʃapman/

Noun

chapman (plural chapmen)

1. packman, pedlar
   • 1790, Robert Burns, Tam o' Shanter:

     When chapman billies leave the street, / And drouthy neibors, neibors, meet

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)