Definitions for costermonger
ˈkɒs tərˌmʌŋ gər, -ˌmɒŋ-, ˈkɔ stər-coster·mon·ger

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. costermonger, barrow-man, barrow-boynoun

   a hawker of fruit and vegetables from a barrow

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. costermongernoun

   a trader who sells fruit and vegetables from a barrow in the street

2. Etymology: from costard + monger

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Costermonger

   A costermonger, coster, or costard is a street seller of fruit and vegetables in British towns. The term is derived from the words costard (a medieval variety of apple) and monger (seller), and later came to be used to describe hawkers in general. Some historians have pointed out that a hierarchy existed within the costermonger class and that while costermongers sold from a handcart or animal-drawn cart, mere hawkers carried their wares in a basket.Costermongers met a need for rapid food distribution from the wholesale markets (e.g., in London: Smithfield for meat, Spitalfields for fruit and vegetables or Billingsgate for fish) by providing retail sales at locations that were convenient for the labouring classes. Costermongers used a variety of devices to transport and display produce: a cart might be stationary at a market stall; a mobile (horse-drawn or wheelbarrow) apparatus or a hand-held basket might be used for light-weight goods such as herbs and flowers. Costermongers experienced a turbulent history, yet survived numerous attempts to eradicate their class from the streets. Programmes designed to curtail their activities occurred during the reigns of Elizabeth I, Charles I and reached a peak during Victorian times. However, the social cohesion within the coster community, along with sympathetic public support, enabled them to resist efforts to eradicate them. They became known for their melodic sales patter, poems and chants, which they used to attract attention. Both the sound and appearance of costermongers contributed to a distinctive street life that characterised London and other large European cities, including Paris, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their loud sing-song cry or chants used to attract attention became part of the fabric of street life in large cities in Britain and Europe. Costermongers exhibited a distinct identity. Individuals signalled membership of the coster community through a dress code, especially the large neckerchief, known as a kingsman, tied round their necks. Their hostility towards the police was legendary. The distinctive identity and culture of costermongers led to considerable appeal as subject-matter for artists, dramatists, comedians, writers and musicians. Parodies of the costermonger and his way of life were frequent features in Victorian music halls. Costermongers were ubiquitous in mid-Victorian England, but their numbers began to decline in the second half of the 20th century when they began to take up pitches in the regulated markets.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. costermonger

   A costermonger is a street vendor or trader who sells fruits, vegetables, fish, or other goods from a small cart or stand. The term is primarily associated with the United Kingdom, especially London, and dates back to the 16th century.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Costermongernoun

   an apple seller; a hawker of, or dealer in, any kind of fruit or vegetables; a fruiterer

2. Etymology: [See Costard.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Costermonger

   Costermonger, Coster or Costard is a street seller of fruit and vegetables, in London and other British towns. They were ubiquitous in mid-Victorian England, and some are still found in markets. As usual with street-sellers, they would use a loud sing-song cry or chant to attract attention. Their cart might be stationary at a market stall, or mobile. The term is derived from the words costard and monger; i.e., seller. Costers met a need for rapid food distribution from the central markets. Their membership as a coster was signalled by their large neckerchief, known as a kingsman, tied round their necks. Their hostility towards the police was legendary. The term is now often used to describe hawkers in general; sometimes a distinction is made between the two: a costermonger sells from a handcart or animal-drawn cart, while a hawker carries his wares in a basket.

Etymology and OriginsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Costermonger

   In Shakespeare’s time a Costardmonger, or trader in a famous species of apple so called.

Matched Categories

1. • Trader

How to pronounce costermonger?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say costermonger in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of costermonger in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of costermonger in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=costermonger
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Costermonger
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costermonger
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/costermonger
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=costermonger
7. ^ Etymology and Origins
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/54657/pg54657-images.html#:~:text=costermonger