Whats a mart?

[dukefan1]

What does mart stand for in Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc… its a mystery to me…anyone know?

[Cunctator]

An abbreviated version of market?

[Uvula_Donor]

Market.

@Merriam-Webster

Main Entry: [sub]3[/sub]mart
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): -s
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle Dutch market, marct, mart, probably from Old North French market – more at MARKET
1 archaic : a coming together of people to buy and sell : FAIR 1a
2 obsolete : chaffering and bargaining : buying and selling; also : BARGAIN
3 : MARKET

Citation format for this entry:

“mart.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2002. http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com (30 May 2005).