Haberdasher

"Haberdasher, a retailer of goods, a dealer in small wares; T. *haubvertauscher*, from *haab*; B. *have*; It. *haveri*, *haberi*, goods, wares; and *tauscher*, *vertauscher*, a dealer, an exchanger; G. *tuiskar*; D. *tusker*; B. *tuischer*." This derivation of the term *haberdasher* is from *Thomson's Etymons*, and seems to be satisfactory. *Haberdascher* was the name of a trade at least as early as the reign of Edward III.; but it is not easy to decide what was the sort of trade or business then carried on under that name. Any elucidation of that point would be very acceptable.