costermonger: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal, Historical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “costermonger” mean?
A person who sells fruit, vegetables, or other goods from a cart, barrow, or stall in the street.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who sells fruit, vegetables, or other goods from a cart, barrow, or stall in the street; a street vendor.
Historically, specifically a London street seller of fruit and vegetables, known for their distinctive slang and culture. Can be used to denote a peddler or hawker of any kind of goods in an urban, public setting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is of British origin and is almost exclusively used in British English contexts, especially those referencing UK history. In American English, equivalent terms like 'street vendor' or 'peddler' are far more common.
Connotations
In British English: historical, nostalgic, specifically urban (London). In American English: it would be recognized as a Britishism with the above connotations, but is not part of active vocabulary.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects, but marginally higher in UK historical writing. Virtually absent from contemporary American speech and writing.
Grammar
How to Use “costermonger” in a Sentence
[be/v/ work as] a costermongerthe costermonger [shouted/sold/cried]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “costermonger” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He costermongered his way through the East End for decades.
- (Verb use is archaic and very rare.)
American English
- (Not used.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used.)
American English
- (Not used.)
adjective
British English
- The costermonger community had its own traditions.
- (Use is only attributive, not predicative.)
American English
- (Not used.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business contexts.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or literary studies discussing 19th-century urban life, commerce, or working-class culture.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “costermonger”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “costermonger”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “costermonger”
- Misspelling as 'costermongar', 'costermanger'.
- Using it to refer to a modern supermarket greengrocer.
- Pronouncing the first 'o' as in 'cost' (/əʊ/) instead of /ɒ/ or /ɑː/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a historical term. Modern equivalents are 'street vendor', 'market trader', or 'hawker', but they lack the specific historical and cultural connotations of 'costermonger'.
It's a shortened form of 'Costard', which was a type of large, ribbed apple popular in medieval England. So, a 'costard-monger' was originally a seller of these specific apples.
Primarily, it refers to sellers of fruit and vegetables. However, by historical extension, it could sometimes refer to street sellers of fish or other perishable goods, but not typically manufactured items.
Not specifically. 'Costermonger' was generally used for men. Women in the trade were often referred to as 'costermongers' as well, or more generically as 'hawkers' or 'street sellers'. 'Costermonger's wife' might be used but denoted a familial role, not the occupation itself.
A person who sells fruit, vegetables, or other goods from a cart, barrow, or stall in the street.
Costermonger is usually formal, historical, literary in register.
Costermonger: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒstəˌmʌŋɡə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːstərˌmʌŋɡər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COSTerMONGER = COSTS MONEY + GER (seller). A seller where things cost money, specifically from a cart. Or, remember it rhymes with 'foster-monger' – someone who fosters (sells) goods.
Conceptual Metaphor
OCCUPATION AS IDENTITY (The 'costermonger' represents an entire historical way of life, not just a job).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest modern equivalent to a 'costermonger'?