Advertisement

peddler (n.)

"one who travels about selling small wares which he carries with him," late 14c., pedelere (c. 1300 as a surname, Will. Le Pedelare), altered from peoddere, peddere (c. 1200, mid-12c. as a surname), which probably is from Medieval Latin pedarius "one who goes on foot" [The Middle English Compendium], from Latin pes (genitive pedis) "foot," from PIE root *ped- "foot." Middle English ped "panier, wicker basket" is a back-formation from pedder.  Pedlar, preferred spelling in U.K., is attested from late 14c.

Others are reading

Advertisement
Definitions of peddler from WordNet

peddler (n.)
someone who travels about selling his wares (as on the streets or at carnivals);
Synonyms: pedlar / packman / hawker / pitchman
peddler (n.)
an unlicensed dealer in illegal drugs;
Synonyms: pusher / drug peddler / drug dealer / drug trafficker
From wordnet.princeton.edu