>>21362453 /lb

Merchant is code for JEW.

From Shakespeare play, The Merchant of Venice. Title character is a Jew named Shylock. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599, is a compelling play that navigates the intersections of comedy and drama. The story unfolds in the bustling city of Venice, revolving around the antisemitic Christian merchant Antonio, who seeks a loan from the Jewish moneylender Shylock to aid his friend Bassanio in pursuing the wealthy Portia. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Antonio fails to repay the loan, resulting in a legal dispute where Shylock demands a pound of Antonio’s flesh as collateral.

Today’s colloquial ‘Shylock’ means a money lender, often Jewish.