kaupmaðr
nafnorðkarlkynkaup-maðr
m. [cp. Engl. chapman; Germ. kaufmann; Dan. kjöbmand; Swed. köpman]:—a merchant, traveller; in old times, trade was held in honour, and a kaupmaðr (merchant) and farmaðr (traveller) were almost synonymous; young men of rank and fortune used to set out on their travels which they continued for some years, until at last they settled for life; even the kings engaged in trade (see e. g. the pref. to the Hkr., of king St. Olave and Hall í Haukadale); whence in after-times arose the notion of royal trade monopoly. Numerous passages in the Sagas refer to journeys taken for trade; kaupmaðr ok smiðr mikill, Ó. H. 5, 214, Nj. 124, Fms. viii. 234, 303, Ísl. ii. 126, Fs. 24, Eb. 140; kaupmanna görfi, a merchant’s attire, Fms. v. 285; kaupmanna-lög, a league of merchants; kallaði hann þeirra manna auðgastan er verit höfðu í kaupmanna-lögum, Ld. 28.