Midgham House, Newbury, Berks.
_Haberdasher_ (Vol. ii., p. 167.).--
"Haberdasher, a retailer of goods, a dealer in small wares; T.
_haubvertauscher_, from _haab_; B. _have_; It. _haveri_,
_haberi_, goods, wares; and _tauscher_, _vertauscher_, a dealer,
an exchanger; G. _tuiskar_; D. _tusker_; B. _tuischer_."
This derivation of the term _haberdasher_ is from _Thomson's Etymons_,
and seems to be satisfactory.
_Haberdascher_ was the name of a trade at least as early as the reign of
Edward III.; but it is not easy to decide what was the sort of trade or
business then carried on under that name. Any elucidation of that point
would be very acceptable.