merchant guild

noun

First recorded in 1865–70

Henry I. granted the city certain customs, laws and liberties, and the right to have a merchant guild.

The town guild has become a merchant guild, although composed of the same constituency.

This ruling class comprised only a part of the inhabitants, only the members of the merchant guild.

In practice the chief members of the merchant guild would usually be also the chief members of the Court-leet.

Many market places were dominated by a merchant guild, which had a monopoly of the local trade.

Browse