The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #84028 Message #1548984
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
24-Aug-05 - 07:40 PM
Thread Name: happy? - Aug 24 (St Bartholomew)
Subject: RE: happy? - Aug 24 (St Bartholomew)
As early as 1583 in print (OED), the meaning had been extended to apply to dealers in specific goods, e. g. ships' supplies, grain, etc.