Retail
/ˈriː.teɪl/noun
The sale of goods directly to the public in small quantities.
Did you know?In Middle French, retaille referred to a remnant or piece cut off from a larger cloth, so the word began with the physical image of slicing something down to size before it became a market term.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
LL
retaliare
“to cut again or cut back”
Old French
OFr
retaillier
“to cut in pieces; to trim, clip”
Middle French
MF
retaille
“a remnant; a piece cut off”
14th Century
English
retayle
“to sell in small quantities; retail trade”
Modern English
English
retail
“the sale of goods in small quantities to consumers”