Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Traffic \Traf"fic\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Trafficked; p. pr. &
vb. n. Trafficking.] [F. trafiquer; cf. It. trafficare, Sp.
traficar, trafagar, Pg. traficar, trafegar, trafeguear, LL.
traficare; of uncertain origin, perhaps fr. L. trans across,
over + -ficare to make (see -fy, and cf. G. ["u]bermachen
to transmit, send over, e. g., money, wares); or cf. Pg.
trasfegar to pour out from one vessel into another, OPg.
also, to traffic, perhaps fr. (assumed) LL. vicare to
exchange, from L. vicis change (cf. Vicar).]
1. To pass goods and commodities from one person to another
for an equivalent in goods or money; to buy or sell goods;
to barter; to trade.
[1913 Webster]
2. To trade meanly or mercenarily; to bargain.
[1913 Webster]
traffic
n 1: the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming
and going in a particular locality during a specified
period of time
2: buying and selling; especially illicit trade
3: the amount of activity over a communication system during a
given period of time; "heavy traffic overloaded the trunk
lines"; "traffic on the internet is lightest during the
night"
4: social or verbal interchange (usually followed by `with')
[syn: dealings]
v 1: deal illegally; "traffic drugs"
2: trade or deal a commodity; "They trafficked with us for
gold"
[also: trafficking, trafficked]
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