costermonger
/'kɔstə/ Cách viết khác : (costermonger) /'kɔstə,mʌɳgə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person who sells fruit, vegetables, fish, or other goods from a barrow (a wheeled cart) in the street; a street vendor or hawker, particularly one associated with traditional markets in Britain, such as those in London.
Usage
The word "costermonger" is a somewhat dated or historical term, primarily used in British English. It specifically refers to a type of street trader who sells perishable goods from a portable stall. It often carries connotations of a traditional, working-class trade.
Examples
- In 19th-century London, the costermonger was a common sight, calling out prices for apples and oranges.
- The market's atmosphere was defined by the shouts of the costermongers selling fresh produce.
- He worked as a costermonger on the same street corner for over thirty years.
Advanced Usage
- "Costermonger's barrow": The specific cart used by a costermonger to display and transport goods.
- The old photograph showed a costermonger's barrow piled high with cabbages.
- The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe things related to this trade.
- She studied the costermonger culture of Victorian England.
Variants and Related Words
- Costardmonger: An older, now obsolete, form of the word. "Costard" was a type of large apple, and "monger" means seller or trader.
- Hawker: A more general modern synonym for someone who sells goods informally in public places.
- Street vendor: A common contemporary term for a person selling items on the street.
- Peddler / Pedlar: A person who sells small goods, often traveling from place to place.
Synonyms
- Hawker
- Street vendor
- Street trader
- Peddler (especially in a historical context)
Antonyms
- Shopkeeper
- Retailer (in a fixed location)
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "To cry one's wares like a costermonger": To advertise or announce what one is selling in a loud, persistent, and traditional manner.
- The auctioneer cried his wares like a costermonger, trying to attract bids for the old furniture.
Noun
- a hawker of fruit and vegetables from a barrow