a dealer in textiles (especially silks)
"The old mercer's shop on High Street was famous for selling the finest imported silks and velvets."
British maker of printed calico cloth who invented mercerizing (1791-1866)
"John Mercer was a British textile manufacturer whose invention of mercerizing revolutionized the production of calico cloth."
A merchant dealing in fabrics and textiles, especially silks and other fine cloths.
"The local mercer specialized in selling luxurious silks and fine damasks to high-end fashion designers."
In plain English: A mercer is someone who sells high-quality fabrics and threads for making clothes.
"The mercer sold high-quality silk and linen fabrics to local tailors."
Usage: A mercer is specifically a dealer who sells high-quality fabrics like silk rather than general clothing or furniture. Use this term when referring to the historical profession of textile merchants instead of modern retail store owners.
A surname.
"The meeting was attended by several members of the Mercer family, including Mr. Mercer himself."
The word comes from the Anglo-Norman term marcer, which originally meant a merchant dealing in textiles. It traces its roots back to the Latin word merx, meaning "commodity."