Merchantman \Mer"chant*man\, n.; pl. Merchantmen.
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   1. A merchant. [Obs.] --Matt. xiii. 45.
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   2. A trading vessel; a ship employed in the transportation of
      goods, as, distinguished from a man-of-war.
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	merchantman
     n : a cargo ship; "they did much of their overseas trade in
         foreign bottoms" [syn: bottom, freighter, merchant
         ship]

	

	MERCHANTMAN. A ship or vessel employed in a merchant's service. This term is 
used in opposition to a ship of war.