merchant ship

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

merchant ship
    n 1: a cargo ship; "they did much of their overseas trade in
         foreign bottoms" [syn: {bottom}, {freighter},
         {merchantman}, {merchant ship}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Merchant \Mer"chant\, a.
   Of, pertaining to, or employed in, trade or merchandise; as,
   the merchant service.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Merchant bar}, {Merchant iron} or {Merchant steel}, certain
      common sizes of wrought iron and steel bars.

   {Merchant service or Merchant marine}, the mercantile marine
      of a country. --Am. Cyc.

   {Merchant ship}, a ship employed in commerce.

   {Merchant tailor}, a tailor who keeps and sells materials for
      the garments which he makes.
      [1913 Webster]