merchandize

English

Noun

merchandize (uncountable)

Obsolete spelling of merchandise.
- 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 84, column 2:
  So, if a Sonne that is by his Father ſent about Merchandize, doe ſinfully miſcarry vpon the Sea; the imputation of his vvickedneſſe, by your rule, ſhould be impoſed vpon his Father that ſent him: […]
- 1745, Guy Miege, The Present State of Great Britain, and Ireland, page 443:
  [T]he Bay of Galway [is] so well seated for Merchandize, that it has been lookd on as the greatest Place of Trade in all Ireland; insomuch that a forane Merchant meeting an Irishman, asked him in what Part of Galway Ireland stood?
- 1854, Henry A. Stern, Dawnings of Light in the East‎^[1], page 46:
  They have their stored booths in every bazaar, occupy all the principal caravanseries with their merchandize, and entirely control the business of bankerage and monopolies.

Verb

merchandize (third-person singular simple present merchandizes, present participle merchandizing, simple past and past participle merchandized)

(US) Alternative spelling of merchandise; to engage in selling of merchandise.

Usage notes

This is commonly proscribed as a spelling error of merchandise despite its prevalence.

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References

Jesse Karjalainen (2012) The Joy Of English: 100 Illuminating Conversations about the English Language, How To Books Ltd, →ISBN: “The same exceptions exist in US spelling -ize, although it is common to see certain nonstandard spellings, such as advertize, merchandize and televize.”