Pedlers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Vendors who actively market and sell various products directly to customers, often in informal settings like streets or markets
2. Those who engage in the sale of diverse items, frequently moving from place to place to find buyers
3. People who move from location to location offering goods for sale directly to customers

Etymology: "Pedlers" is the variant spelling of "peddlers," the plural of "peddler," so the history belongs to the singular. "Peddler" is formed from "peddle," a verb that dates to the late 1500s and was formed from "pedlar" or "peddler," itself the older noun. The noun's origin is uncertain: it may be related to "ped," a basket or pack, which would fit a seller carrying goods on his back, but the exact connection is not firmly established. The spelling "pedlar" was the standard British form, while "peddler" became common in American usage, which is why "pedlers" shows up in either style. Both spellings are older than the verb that now dominates the word's meaning, so the spelling variants reflect regional habits rather than different histories.

Synonyms: hawkers, vendors